Chapter 281: Death by a Thousand Cuts

Zhang Anshi led Yi Wang Zhu out of the palace.

Zhang Anshi said as he walked, “These days, you don’t go back to the official school academy first, these days in and out of the palace ban, you all give me a hand.”

Chu nodded, oh-so-subtly.

He looked downcast.

Zhang Anshi comforted, “Let’s go, it’s time for us to meet the culprit.”

Culprits ……

Zhu showed a puzzled look.

Zhang Anshi traveled all the way to Qixia, and was then led by Chen Li into the imperial prison.

The Imperial Prison was already overcrowded with detainees.

Since we have got the roster, then …… the brocade guards will start to search the rest of the backbone according to the map.

The ordinary congregation is of course not necessary to catch, but some of the key personnel must be caught.

As to how it will be disposed of in the future, it is a moot point.

Li Xi Zhou had long been bruised all over his body, he had a grimace on his face, and he was being hoisted up, with his person hanging in mid-air, muttering as if he was reciting scripture.

Somehow, as long as this guy was chanting, Zhang Anshi wanted to laugh.

Yi Wang Zhu looked up at Li Xi Zhou and mouthed, “Chief Instructor, what is he reading?”

“It’s supposed to curse us, afraid or not?”

Yi Wang Zhu said very truthfully, “I’m only afraid of my royal brother’s fists.”

Zhang Anshi had someone bring in a chair, and then took a seat in front of this Li Xi Zhou.

He looked at this Li Xi Zhou, who had long been dying, and frowned, “How can you be so cruel, but don’t beat people to death.”

Chen Li, who was standing by the side, sweated and busily said, “Yes, I will pay attention next time.”

Zhang Anshi said, “If there is any life-threatening situation, a good doctor must be called in time, as well as timely medication, and no matter how much it costs, the person must be saved back.”

Chen Li said, “The doctors in this imperial prison are the best, I am not bragging, the eunuchs in the palace are not as good as them.”

Zhang Anshi then scolded, “You are not learning from the good ones, but want to compare with the bad ones?”

Chen Li said with a bemused expression, “Ah …… this ……”

Zhang Anshi then looked at Li Xi Zhou, then asked Yi Wang Zhu: “The case, you already largely know it. You come and say it, how should this person …… in front of you make him talk?”

Zhu, however, said, “Chief Instructor, don’t sell yourself short.”

Zhang Anshi smiled, and with his hands behind his back, he walked around before saying, “Li Xi Zhou, do you still recognize me?”

Li Xi Zhou struggled to open his eyes, which were already swollen from the beating, and looked at Zhang An Shi, saying, “I know him even if he turns into ashes.”

Zhang Anshi said, “Do you account for what happened in the palace?”

Li Xi Zhou shook his head, he said hysterically, “I am not going to tell, time is running out, if you release my family …… maybe …… there is still a chance… …”

Zhang Anshi, however, smiled slightly and said, “It is impossible for your family …… to live.”

Li Xi Zhou said, “Then let’s die together.”

Zhang Anshi mockingly said, “To die together, what are you taking to die with us? Do you think that by relying on that Jin, you are qualified to die together?”

At these words, Li Xi Zhou s face changed, he winced and stared fiercely at Zhang Anshi: “How did you …… know?”

Zhang Anshi looked at him contemptuously and said, ”How can you possibly hide that little trick of yours from anyone? If you want people to not know unless you don’t do it! You see, now there is one more sin on you and your family.”

Li Xi Zhou involuntarily shivered again, since he came here, repeatedly tortured, he still has the obsession in his heart, only feel …… that as long as he still holds something, perhaps there is a line of possibility that the court will be compromised to him.

And now …… even this last bit of the bottom card is gone.

He fell down in tears, “Hey …… both born Yu He Liang, how did it come to such a point.”

His voice grew sadder and sadder, followed by gnashing of teeth and a long sigh of sudden despair, “Hey ……”

He let out a sigh.

Zhang Anshi looked at him, his face did show a trace of curiosity, said, “I have always been very strange, why …… you rely on a small county in the district, you can give orders to so many White Lotus Taoists in the world? These tricks of yours of pretending to be a god, the people around you, do they really believe it?”

Li Xi Zhou …… seems to be because the psychological line of defense is already collapsed, at this time has been all thoughts, just intermittently said, “Not because people whether to believe, is the world many people, hope that there is a person like this.”

Zhang Anshi stared at Li Xi Zhou, who was silent, waiting with bated breath for him to continue.

Li Xi Zhou said: “As if, when the end of the Yuan Dynasty, that Han Shantong and Liu Futong, do not many people know that they are playing God? They buried the stone man, proclaiming what Mo Dao stone man one eye, this thing out of the world against, really all people believe it? Heh ……… in fact …… in fact but is everyone wants to instead already, because everyone wants to anti, so some people play God playing ghosts, and thus the world have shadow from, to their words convinced.”

Zhang Anshi was thoughtfully silent for a moment, then said, “You are not too high on yourself, you are far from people like Liu Futong and Han Shantong. They either pretended to be gods and goddesses for the sake of resistance, while you are merely amassing wealth.”

Li Xi Zhou said: “The path is the same, even if Han Shantong and Liu Futong live in this world, with their original means, may not also be able to call many people to rebel. By the same token, if I were at that time, and only preached in this way, this White Lotus Sect of mine, I’m afraid it would be far less popular than the White Lotus Sect they preached.”

Zhang Anshi said, “There are a few points of truth.”

Li Xi Zhou continued, “I have also merely joined the hearts and minds of the ordinary people, who, by scrimping and saving, have offered up their possessions and given them to me in exchange for their peace of mind. And those White Lotus Taoists in the various states and counties of the world, who are worried about their tenants under their own hands, are always dissatisfied with the tenant rents, or for other reasons, and cause trouble.”

“Therefore, with this White Lotus Sect, these local magnates, gifted me with money, so I let them come to be this White Lotus Taoist, and with this identity, the tenants underneath, there will be no complaints. Not only do they not dare to count the sharecroppers’ rents, even on New Year’s holidays, they have to scrimp and save, and send their belongings to this White Lotus Taoist’s home to show their devotion.”

Li Xi Zhou paused, continued: “In the final analysis, but you are those four books and five scriptures, in order to appear to be different from others, so pretending to be profound, this four books and five scriptures is guilty of, but with the current Zen, Taoism, the same problem, the old steps, will be these profound and obscure things, as their own distinction between the world’s people’s capital. Don’t look at the government usually say what the edification of edification, but the gentry and the readers of the literary words, the ordinary people, but do not understand a word, and even speak all the effort.”

Li Xi Zhou was coughing desperately at this point, he seemed to be in excruciating pain all around, and his face was wrinkled into a ball.

Slowly, he then said: “This can certainly teach people …… complacency, complacency, but the bad thing is that the people are always restless, refused to settle down, it is inevitable to make people uneasy. I this White Lotus religion, is to say to those ignorant people listen to, the people believe, then those local powerful and rich households, and even the gentry and readers, will also be willing to get a White Lotus Taoist, easy to save energy, there are benefits, why not?”

“As for those local officials, it would have been more trouble than it was worth. So …… even without me, without this White Lotus Sect, there will still be others, there will be something else out.”

Zhang Anshi hooked up a cold smile and said, “What a good reckoning, I didn’t expect that a so-called White Lotus Sect in the district, but the hearts and minds of all people have been counted. In that case, those local parental officials, as well as the local academics and government officials, are all drunkards, and are actually not even as good as you crooks.”

Zhang Anshi had to admit that this Li Xi Zhou was definitely an expert in playing with his mind.

Li Xi Zhou s face was ugly, but insisted: “This is different, those people …… rely on the four books and five sutras to be an official, to teach the people or not, and they have what to do with them? But we are different, we have nothing, if we don’t have the ability to make people believe in our words, then we are nothing.”

Zhang Anshi said, “That makes some sense.”

Saying that, Zhang Anshi stood up, but very calmly said: ”You have committed a lot of crimes, but now you have finally said a few human words, the reason why I am here is to tell you that you now have no cards whatsoever. In the next three years, you will suffer many sins, and after three years, it will not be too late to lynch you. You Fang said so many words, it can be seen that you are an extremely smart person, but a person who is too smart, but will use these smarts, used in this kind of sinful and evil things, then …… will have to bear the consequences.”

After saying those last words, Zhang Anshi walked out of the torture room, explaining on one side, “From now on, strike with a light hand, don’t get killed.”

He said before exiting the cell without looking back.

Standing outside the cell, after he took a long breath, Yi Wang Zhu came out and Zhang Anshi said, “Do you know why I brought you here?”

Chu shook his head.

Zhang Anshi said, “What do you feel after reading it?”

“Scary.” Chu replied honestly.

“Of course it’s scary.” Zhang Anshi said, “But since we are the Brocade Guards, we have to face things like this, and people can’t be in a greenhouse all the time. In this world, there is always someone who faces the darkness head on. It’s either you or someone else. This official school academy, are you still reading?”

Without hesitating at all, Chu said, “Read.”

“Why?”

Zhang Anshi looked a little surprised that this guy was so dry.

“It’s scary, but it’s also exciting.” Judo said.

Zhang Anshi: “……”

Zhang Anshi then said, “After graduating from the official school academy, do you intend to enter the Jinyiwei?”

“Me?” Zhu was surprised, and then said, “I’m only afraid that my royal brother won’t allow it.”

Zhang Anshi said, “As long as you are bent on having your way, His Majesty can’t do anything to you, can he still beat you to death?”

Zhu Dao said, “Then I will go and tell the Emperor’s brother that the Chief Instructor admires me and wants me to stay at the Brocade Guards.”

Zhang Anshi immediately glared and cursed, “You don’t deserve to be my student.”

Zhu then drooped his head and said in a resigned manner, “I’m willing to stay, I like being in the academy, and in the future I hope to stay in the guards like my fellow students.”

Zhang Anshi said, “Then we will talk about it when the time comes, but …… the reason why I show you these, there is another reason, you see this person, how do you think?”

“He harmed imperial sister-in-law, so naturally I hate to break him into pieces.”

“Shattered into pieces?” Zhang Anshi looked at him with a few teasing hints, “If I give you a knife, are you really willing to break him into pieces?”

Chu nodded very seriously, “Really.”

Zhang Anshi, however, also got serious and said, “But have you ever thought that breaking people into pieces is addictive?”

“Addicted?”

Zhang Anshi said; “A person, after experiencing bloodshed, will become more and more violent.”

Zhu looked puzzled, “But isn’t that what the Brocade Guards do?”

“The Jinyiwei is to support the world and kill dissidents, is it not to do this?” Zhang Anshi exasperatedly said, “If the Jinyiwei is treated as a machine of violence, then this is no different from Ji Gang, but it is just used to exclude dissenters, and in the end, the violence will overshadow the reason, and it will become more and more indistinguishable from right and wrong!”

“Do you wish, in the end, for this brood to become like this?”

Zhu immediately shook his head, but said, “But this can’t be helped.”

“It’s important to let people face the darkness as well as the bright side.” Zhang Anshi’s tone gradually calmed down, “So I have an intention to promote some hobbies in the guards and also in the government school academy, so that people can all participate, such as kicking cuju, and playing chess, or other recreational activities, so that after the tension of killing, it’s rare to relax, and it can alleviate such violence. But everything is difficult at the beginning, it is always necessary to encourage people to do so. ……”

Zhang Anshi paused, and then said, “I think about it, I want to hold some competitions in the Wei Li and the school, such as chess tournaments, such as Cuju tournaments, or hold some calligraphy exhibitions of the Wei Li people, in addition to this, we also need to set up an internal publication, responsible for searching for some of the Wei Li people’s deeds, written into an article, both praise, but also have to have to criticize some of the phenomena, but also willing to go to the receive submissions from people in the Weili and in the academy; in short, to cultivate interest, to separate the bloody work from the peaceful interest.”

“Oh.” Zhu nodded, “So that’s how it is, but …… what does that have to do with me?”

Zhang Anshi said, “You have a good ear, so you can help me poke around in the academy and the guards to find out what other hobbies people have, healthy ones of course.”

Chu thought about it, but asked, “What do you mean by a healthy hobby?”

Zhang Anshi patiently said, “Just good hobbies.”

“I see, why didn’t Chief Instructor say so earlier, leave it to me, I can do it properly.” Zhu patted his chest.

Zhang Anshi said, “Alright, go back to the academy.”

Zhu oh, turned around and walked a few steps, but suddenly stopped and turned back, this moment, he was in tears, “Chief Instructor ……”

Zhang Anshi said, “What is it.”

“Your sister-in-law …… will be fine, right?”

Zhang Anshi’s lips hemmed and hawed for a moment, but he did not answer immediately.

Zhu seemed to have grown up quite a bit all of a sudden, and as he looked at Zhang Anshi, he seemed to understand something, so he turned around and left.

…………

Zhang Anshi hit the road.

Eyeing Xu Jingyi, who was also pregnant, Zhang Anshi couldn’t help but say with fear in his hindsight, “Hey …… that’s why I’ve always said that one must be careful, it seems that I’ve been right to be cautious all these years.”

Xu Jingyi has arrived at the time of labor, probably because she will be a mother, the whole person seems to be more gentle and easy-going.

When she heard Zhang Anshi’s clueless words, she said curiously, “What’s wrong?”

Zhang Anshi shook his head and didn’t talk about the matter in the palace for fear that she would be worried, so he digressed and said, “In these few days, you need to be more careful, the child should be born, but …… I may be a bit busy in these few days, when . …I’m afraid I won’t be able to take care of it.”

Xu Jingyi smiled gently and said, “Don’t worry, husband, I can take care of myself, besides there are so many people around to watch.”

Zhang Anshi couldn’t help but say, “Truly a tiger father has no daughter.”

Xu Jingyi said, “What?”

Zhang Anshi was busy shaking his head, saying, “It’s nothing, I was just thinking of Lord Taishan.”

The night was silent, and on the next day, Zhang Anshi entered the palace for an audience.

As soon as people arrived at the noon gate, they saw eunuchs waiting here.

As soon as that eunuch saw Zhang Anshi, he hurriedly said, “Duke Wei, His Majesty has an oracle that Duke Wei will enter the inner sanctum straight away.”

Zhang Anshi nodded tacitly and rushed to the inner sanctum at fire speed, trotting to Empress Xu’s chambers.

Outside the bedchamber, Eunuch Xu waited expectantly for Zhang Anshi to arrive.

“How?”

“It’s still the same.” Imperial Doctor Xu said, “This night, are listening to the fetal heart …… but has always been eighty times up and down …… the empress also feel some discomfort in the body …… ”

Dr. Xu lowered his voice.

In fact, he is no longer considered a doctor, but a medical officer, that is, he manages all the medical centers in the world.

But now, it was time to come, every time he came to the palace to treat the nobles, he felt scared, only when he saw Zhang Anshi, he felt a little more at ease.

Zhang Anshi nodded and then entered the bedchamber with Imperial Doctor Xu.

Zhu Di saw Zhang Anshi and said, “You come, the others stand down.”

That Xu Tai doctor like a great amnesty, and busy with other eunuchs and palace eunuchs to exit the temple.

Zhang Anshi stepped forward and saluted first, then said, “Is the empress well?”

Zhu sighed and whispered, “She just fell asleep.”

Said, secretly glanced at Empress Xu, her voice was even softer: “She also feels that the child in her belly …… Tell me, what is the worst outcome of the current situation?”

Zhang Anshi said, “The worst outcome is that neither the big one nor the small one, can be saved.”

When these words came out, Zhu Di sucked in a mouthful of cool air, and his face went white for a few minutes all of a sudden.

With an effort to restrain himself, he said, still softly, “What about better results?”

“Think of a way …… to keep Niangniang.” Zhang Anshi said.

Zhu Di’s throat rolled as he listened, “The child can’t be saved?”

Zhang Anshi could only be silent.

Zhu Di pale said, “Hey …… old age to get a son, she suffered such a lot of suffering, it is not easy to endure to the present, I do not know how sad it should be.”

Zhang Anshi said, “Actually, I am also worried about this.”

“You say.”

Zhang Anshi said, “The Empress and even the person of love, now suffered such a blow, is bound to be mentally unstable, coupled with …… the process of rescue, the body is afraid that it is also not good, this double blow under …… ”

He didn’t go on, but the meaning was clear.

Zhu Di had his hands behind his back, he subconsciously nodded his head, of course he knew exactly what Zhang Anshi meant, Empress Xu’s health was not good at all, coupled with the pain of losing her son and depression in her heart, this was definitely a fatal blow.

Zhu Di then said, “In any case, you find a way …… to come up with a charter, I …… expect her ……”

Zhu Di said here, suddenly became gentle: “I hope she is well.”

“Ahem ……”

A clear cough, but it interrupted Zhu Di and Zhang Anshi’s words.

Zhang Anshi and Zhu Di both looked toward the distant phoenix couch.

“Your Majesty, I have a word for you.” Empress Xu suddenly spoke.

It turned out that she did not sleep at all, the reason why she ‘slept down’ was because she was afraid that Zhu Di was worried, but in fact, from the time Zhang Anshi entered the hall, to the mutterings with Zhu Di, she heard everything.

Zhu then busied himself by stepping forward and said, “What’s wrong?”

Empress Xu on the couch beckoned toward Zhang Anshi, she sat up, leaned against the cushioned pillows, gazed at Zhang Anshi and said, “Secretary Zhang, can the child be saved?”

She asked with extreme seriousness, and as Zhu watched from the side, his face suddenly turned ugly.

Zhu Di is the most understanding of Empress Xu, Empress Xu is a very opinionated person, usually said Zhu Di stubborn, but once Empress Xu decided to certain ideas, even Zhu Di can not argue with her.

Zhang Anshi was busy lowering his head, not daring to look into Empress Xu’s eyes.

Empress Xu said, “Secretary Zhang, speak directly, there is no need to be evasive.”

Zhang Anshi could only say stiffly, “The child’s month is still small …… and …… at this time …… is already in danger in the belly, minister ……鑷�……”

“That is, not without hope?”

“It will be dangerous.” Zhang Anshi said, “And even if it can be born, there’s no guarantee ……”

Zhang Anshi felt that this was cruel, and he could no longer say it.

Empress Xu closed her eyes and contemplated for a moment before saying, “Is Jing Yi okay now? The child should be due at this time.”

Zhang Anshi nodded.

“Ai, you guys don’t know what it’s like to be a mother… If it were Jing Yi, she would definitely be able to understand my feelings.”

Zhang Anshi only drooped his head as if he was being reprimanded.

Empress Xu then said: ”I gave birth to three sons and four daughters for His Majesty in the early years, and now …… the youngest children have all grown up. Now …… again pregnant, Xu is the reason of old age, so …… always feel that this time to carry a child, extraordinarily hard. But no matter how hard it is, I have not complained, this is because, these days, I always look forward to, can see this child ……”

Zhu looked sad and said, “What’s the point of talking about this now, hey ……”

Empress Xu said, “Zhang Qingjia is a capable person, if …… this child has a slight possibility of surviving, also please Zhang Qingjia, do not give up.”

She actually reached out all at once and took Zhang Anshi’s hand in hers, saying kindly, “I hope that Secretary Zhang can sympathize with my feelings.”

Zhang Anshi panicked, “Yes, yes.”

Empress Xu then let go of Zhang Anshi s hand, smiled and said, “Zhang Qing is the son of the most promising, so …… what I said I also said la, after all, or Zhang Qing to take the idea.”

Zhang Anshi said, “Chen …… Chen first went to think of a charter to come.”

Said Zhu, giving him a look.

Zhu got up and the two of them went out of the hall one after the other.

Once out, Zhu Di said, “This is a woman’s benevolence, Zhang Qing ……”

Zhang Anshi said, “Your Majesty …… I …… am thinking …… about it.”

Zhu quieted down and sighed, “Speak.”

Zhang Anshi said, “I’m thinking …… once the child is gone, whether the Empress can carry it, historically …… she is not well and her spirit is not very good …… ”

Zhu Di, in a rare appearance of powerlessness, sighed and said, “Then what do you say?”

“There may be some danger.” Zhang Anshi said, “And I’m actually not too sure.”

Zhu Di opened his eyes slightly and said, “Why didn’t you say so earlier?”

Zhang Anshi said, “His Majesty himself just said ……”

Zhu Di pressed his hand and said worriedly, “Just say how many percent certainty?”

“Fifty to sixty percent.” Zhang Anshi said, “But the danger to the Empress has been added by a few percent.”

Zhu Di gazed at Zhang Anshi, but hesitantly: “I actually can’t make up my mind now ……”

He looked anxious.

Thus, between the tiger’s eyes, Zhu Di saw Imperial Doctor Xu in the corner, trying to be invisible.

Zhu said, “You do it.”

“Yes.” Imperial Doctor Xu’s stealth failed, so frightened that he hurried forward and saluted, “I ……”

Zhu Di said, “You heard the words, what do you think?”

Imperial Doctor Xu said, “Minister …… minister ……”

Zhu Di said, “You are a great medical officer, can’t even come up with such an idea? What use do I need you for.”

Zhu let out a shout.

Dr. Xu subconsciously clutched his head.

It doesn’t matter if this is not hugged, once hugged, but let Zhu can’t tense up.

Zhang Anshi quickly said, “Your Majesty, forget it, forget it, this is not the time to do this.”

Zhu took a deep breath and said, “Then you figure it out.”

Zhang Anshi gritted his teeth, “Then try it, if something really happened to Niangniang, the big deal …… is that I’ll take the blame.”

Zhu said, “Since you have the determination, then try ……”

He was silent for a moment, “This crime is not your turn to bear, teach this bird to bear just fine, what is wrong, I cut him.”

Zhu pointed with his hand.

This finger miraculously pointed at Dr. Xu’s body.

Dr. Xu only felt a blackness before his eyes.

“If that is the case, then preparations will have to be made quickly, Your Majesty …… minister ……”

Zhu Di said, “The people in the palace, are at your disposal, as well as these eunuchs …….”

Zhu Di paused, “I don’t know anything about having children, so I have to count on you.”

Zhang Anshi said, “Yes.”

Zhang Anshi took a deep breath, right now, there was actually no way out, and that was to go ahead with the production.

And early production …… is a dangerous thing, at least in this day and age.

If in later times, the solution would be simple, just have a cesarean section.

But Caesarean section is obviously in this era, too dangerous, this is after all, not to cut the appendix, if you give Zhang Anshi ten or twenty years of time, in fact, can still step by step in the technical solution.

At the moment …… the only way …… is to go the other way.

Zhang Anshi glared at Imperial Doctor Xu.

Dr. Xu was still frozen in place.

Zhang Anshi coughed, “Doctor Xu ……”

Only then did Imperial Doctor Xu come back to his senses, so he scrambled to follow Zhang Anshi, to the corner.

“Lord Wei, do you really have a solution?”

“There is a way, it’s a bit dangerous and there is a heavenly problem.” Zhang Anshi said, “It’s just a bit taboo, think about it, we are two big men.”

Imperial Doctor Xu took a deep breath before gazing at Zhang Anshi and said, “This is not a concern, Duke of Wei, to be precise, old man is not actually considered a man anymore.”

Zhang Anshi: “……”

Imperial Doctor Xu lowered his head and said, “The old man …… can not be humane has been many years, you also know …… that the age is big well.”

“But it looks to me like you’re just over forty years old.”

Imperial Doctor Xu coughed, “Let’s not dwell on this for now, don’t say it, don’t say it.”