Cypress Boat Floating

“The Master said: ‘Govern the people with laws and discipline, and they will avoid punishment but will have no sense of shame. Govern the people with virtue and discipline, and they will have a sense of shame and will behave properly.’”

In the school, Lu Ci Qiu was reciting the Analects of Confucius seriously.

When he finished reciting and was about to sit down, he caught a glimpse from the corner of his eye of a fat man jumping in the yard diagonally opposite him, waving at him with an anxious look. After a closer look, he realized it was Huai Xi.

Seeing him like that, Lu Ci Qiu was afraid that something had happened, so he quickly told the tutor and went out to take a look.

"Your Highness, Your Highness, please go back soon. The Second Prince suddenly came to the courtyard and went straight to your study. Miss Ye happened to be taking care of the gardenias in the study. I was afraid that Miss Ye would bump into the Second Prince, so I hurried here to communicate with you." Huai Xi said anxiously, pulling Lu Ci Qiu.

"What! Second Brother is here!" Hearing this news, Lu Ci Qiu couldn't sit still. He knew in his heart that Lu Zhixing must have suspected Ye Jianqing yesterday, but he didn't expect him to come so soon, even faster than he expected.

"Please ask for leave from the Grand Tutor for me. I'll go back now." After saying that, Lu Ci Qiu quickly walked back to the courtyard.

fortunately!

He should be thankful that he had been more careful and informed Huaixi in advance, asking Huaixi to pay more attention and to come and inform him immediately if he found anyone looking for Ye Jianqing. He was thankful that he had talked to Ye Jianqing in advance last night and told him all the details of the household registration he had handled for her.

Fortunately, he finally caught up. At the last moment.

"Brother, why are you here? You didn't even tell me you were here."

"I just got off court and thought of you, so I wanted to come and see you." Lu Zhixing said as he wiped the sweat from his forehead.

"Okay, brother, let's go inside and talk. It's not good to stand outside." Lu Ci Qiu smiled at Lu Zhixing with his big white teeth bared, then pulled him into the study.

After entering the study, both of them had something on their minds and no one dared to speak first.

Lu Ciqiu was afraid that he would say something he shouldn't say first, which would make Lu Zhixing suspicious. But Lu Zhixing wanted Lu Ciqiu to explain to him first, and he wanted to give his brother a chance.

It was not until Ye Jianqing came up with the freshly brewed tea that Lu Ci Qiu spoke and broke the deadlock.

"Brother, this is the tea you gave me last time. I can only lend you flowers to offer to the Buddha. I lend you flowers to offer to you, the Buddha." Lu Ci Qiu said with a smile.

Lu Zhixing shook his head helplessly, picked up the teacup and said with a smile: "You, you are still so naughty."

Lu Zhixing picked up the teacup, took a sip, closed his eyes and savored it carefully.

"This tea is refreshing and refreshing. It is indeed the most comfortable to drink in summer."

"Yeah." Lu Ci Qiu took a sip.

"People are just like tea. There are rules for drinking tea of ​​different seasons, just like people, there are rules for doing what and when." Lu Zhixing held the teacup and gently brushed away the tea leaves floating on the water with the lid. He spoke in a deep voice, while he kept glancing at Lu Ci Qiu from the corner of his eye.

"Having said that, it's up to everyone to choose tea. Some people don't know how to drink tea, so naturally they don't know what kind of tea to drink in what season. And some people just like to do the opposite." Lu Ci Qiu replied while slowly sipping the tea, completely unaware that Lu Zhixing's face suddenly darkened after hearing this.

Lu Zhixing suddenly felt betrayed. Was Lu Ci Qiu... hinting at something?

When Lu Ci Qiu heard that Lu Zhixing had stopped talking, he turned around curiously and saw his brother staring at him, wondering what he was thinking.

Suddenly, he seemed to realize that what he said just now was not quite right, so he quickly put down the teacup and explained: "No, brother, that's not what I meant just now. What I meant was that some people really like to drink hot tea and don't like to drink winter tea in summer. Oh, that's not what I meant, it's just, it's just..."

Lu Ci Qiu was so anxious that he was sweating profusely. Being in the royal family, he had seen too many intrigues and fratricide. He didn't want his brother to misunderstand, nor did he want this sentence to create hidden dangers between the two of them.

"Why are you in such a hurry? Just talk nicely." Lu Zhixing patted his arm and comforted him.

"Brother, I was just saying it briefly just now. It doesn't mean anything." Lu Ci Qiu sat aside and explained with a wronged look on his face.

"I know." Lu Zhixing nodded to show that he understood.

In fact, he should also know that his brother is impulsive and a little naive under the care of himself and his mother. He has never yearned for that position and only wants to live a happy life as a prince. He shouldn't really be so suspicious of him. Since he said he didn't understand the so-called meaning of this sentence, it's better to be straightforward.

He laughed. He actually treated his younger brother the same way he treated other people. How could he forget that his younger brother was very simple and straightforward, which was his personality.

"By the way, how did you get to know Ye Jianqing?" Lu Zhixing asked directly.

"Qing'er, I found her at the palace gate that day. I went to your place for dinner a few days ago, and when I came back I saw Qing'er wandering around the palace gate, so I approached her and asked her about it. I learned that both her parents had passed away, and she wanted to find a job, but she had no connections and no one wanted her, so I let her enter the palace."

"Really? Why don't I believe it?" Lu Zhixing said.

Lu Ci Qiu showed a look of astonishment, shrugged and said, "I knew you didn't believe it. So what version of the story do you want to hear?"

“The real version.”

Lu Ci Qiu scratched his head in embarrassment, "But, brother, if I tell you the real version of the story, I'm afraid you won't believe it even more."

Lu Zhixing raised his eyebrows and said, "Tell me if I believe it or not."

"Well, since you insist on listening, I'll tell you." Lu Ci Qiu stood up, cleared his throat, and said in a mysterious and calm manner: "All things in the world are born from the yin and yang of heaven and earth. You and I have yin and yang, and so do others. The ancients said that Tai Chi gave birth to two opposites, two opposites gave birth to four images, four images gave birth to eight trigrams, the eight trigrams determine good and bad luck, and good and bad luck give rise to great achievements."

"The Eight Trigrams Deduction is currently the most accurate calculation method. In ancient times, Zhuge Kongming created the Eight Trigrams Formation to defend the country against enemies. Today, I, Lu Ci Qiu, have used the Eight Trigrams Deduction to calculate my benefactor. This benefactor will protect me and make my life smooth and free from illness and disaster.

If you want to meet this noble person, you must wait at the gate of Chang'an Palace at 3:15 pm. This noble person's parents had just passed away not long ago, and he has no relatives or friends and is all alone.

And that day, when I was returning to the palace, I met Ye Jianqing, who had lost both his parents, had no relatives, was alone and had nowhere to go.

At one glance, I knew that this woman was my benefactor, so I brought her into the palace.

This is the story of Qing'er and I. Are you satisfied?" After Lu Ci Qiu's mysterious speech, all he got was a roasted chestnut from Lu Zhixing.

"Speak to me nicely. Don't I know whether you can gossip or use the art of deduction? Also, it's fine if you say this to me, but don't spread it around. If someone with ulterior motives hears you, they will accuse you of colluding with wizards and using witchcraft to harm others, and you'll be in trouble."

Lu Ci Qiu touched his forehead where he was hit, blinked his eyes and pressed Lu Zhixing aggrievedly: "Didn't you ask me to say that? Now you hit me again."

"I want you to tell the truth, not this kind of nonsense."

"Brother, do you believe in witchcraft?" Lu Ci Qiu asked, covering his forehead.

"I don't believe it." Lu Zhixing frowned. Witchcraft has always been resisted in Da'an. Of course he doesn't like it, let alone believe it.

"Then where do you think people go after they die? Do you believe in an afterlife?" Lu Ci Qiu sat down obediently, looking into the distance with a melancholy look on his face, his tone vague and unpredictable.

Lu Zhixing didn't know what he was going to do, so he had to sit down and look at him as he answered, "I don't know where people go after they die, and I don't know if there is an afterlife, but I think that since I have the opportunity to live in this life, I should live well."

"Brother, if I tell you that I am dead, would you believe it?" Lu Ci Qiu turned his head and looked at Lu Zhixing.

Lu Zhixing's frown deepened, with a look of confusion and bewilderment.

"Brother, I believe in the afterlife, I believe in the existence of gods. If it weren't for them, I would have been in the underworld now, I wouldn't have had the chance to meet you, I wouldn't have had the chance to continue to be filial to mother, and continue to be your brother."

Lu Ci Qiu's words made Lu Zhixing even more confused.

"Eighth brother, if you have something to hide that you don't want to say, I won't force you. But don't say these words to scare me."

"Brother, it's not that I don't want to tell you, I'm just afraid that you won't believe me after I tell you." Lu Ci Qiu was also in a dilemma.

His story was so outrageous, so outrageous that even he himself couldn't believe it. He even thought it was a dream. How could he expect anyone to understand and believe it when he told it?

"You said."

Perhaps it was Lu Zhixing's determined look that made Lu Ciqiu feel that he could really trust him, or maybe it was because Lu Zhixing was his brother. After thinking about it, he decided to try to speak it out. At least it was a good thing to have someone to help him share the burden. He had been carrying this matter alone for so many years, and he had to be worried all the time. It was not easy.

"Second brother, what I just said was that I was dead, and it was true. When I was eight years old, I fell into the water. Do you remember?" Lu Ci Qiu asked tentatively.

"I remember." Lu Zhixing nodded. Speaking of this, he was still full of anger. At the beginning, there was someone behind Lu Ci Qiu's fall into the water and deliberately murdered him, but when he was about to find out, the clue was cut off. He is still investigating this matter until now. How could he forget something that has been on his mind for so long?

"I died, but I am alive again. I am reborn." Lu Ci Qiu said this word by word while staring into Lu Zhixing's eyes.

But he couldn't see anything from Lu Zhixing's eyes.

"Rebirth?" Lu Zhixing asked.

"Yes, in my previous life, I died at the age of 21. That year, someone killed me. When I woke up, I had returned to the time when I fell into the water and was rescued at the age of 8. I know you may not believe it, but please believe me. I am now the me who has lived for 21 years in my previous life."

"so?"

Lu Zhixing didn't even dare to think about rebirth. He had never thought that a dead person could be resurrected.

"I have indeed come back from the dead, so this time God has given me another chance to be resurrected, and I decided to seize this opportunity. I want to protect my mother, protect you, and help you, so I study hard. Since I started going to school at the age of ten, I have always been the top scorer in the examinations just to have the opportunity to establish my own government when I am sixteen, so that I can go to court to help you as soon as possible." Perhaps these words had been kept in his heart for too long and no one could say them, Lu Ci Qiu was very excited at this moment.

He held Lu Zhixing's hand tightly and said, "Brother, you have to overthrow the prince. He will kill my mother and you. I don't want to see you die in front of me again."

In this sentence, Lu Zhixing grasped a key point. He held Lu Ciqiu's hand and asked, "Did the prince kill you?"

Lu Ci Qiu shook his head: "I don't know. I was resting in the mansion at that time. Suddenly, there was a fire. Everyone was shouting for help. An arrow flew in front of me in the dark. It was Qing'er. Qing'er stood in front of me and blocked the arrow for me. But the arrow was too powerful and went through Qing'er's heart and shot at me. That kind of power, I doubt it is something that human power can achieve."

"No wonder." Lu Zhixing said, "No wonder you kept asking me about bows and crossbows."

Lu Ci Qiu nodded.

"So Ye Jianqing had already appeared by your side in your previous life?"

"Yes, Qing'er was sent by you to protect me, so I know her, so I know where to find her. So I prepared her household registration in advance."

Lu Zhixing looked at Lu Ci Qiu and felt that the development of things seemed to be becoming more and more incredible.

"Qiu'er, remember what you are saying to Chu."

Seeing him like this, Lu Ci Qiu guessed in his heart that he just didn't believe it. If he wanted to convince him, he would have to produce evidence.

"There was a flood in Lingnan this year. You planned to go there to provide disaster relief, but the prince rejected your plan, right? The day before yesterday, I stopped at the dilapidated temple. After passing the bamboo forest in front of the dilapidated temple, you will see an unnamed mountain. You set up a "Dark Guard Camp" on the mountain. The camp was filled with children you found from all over the place. You taught them martial arts and asked them to work for you. And Ye Jianqing came from the Dark Guard Camp."

The more Lu Zhixing listened, the darker his expression became.

The flood in Lingnan and the fact that he would go to provide disaster relief were things he had only brought up in the court today. Before this, he had never told anyone about it.

No one knows about the Dark Guard Camp. This is his secret and everyone in the camp is his secret weapon.

Lu Zhixing looked at Lu Ci Qiu with a hint of suspicion in his eyes.

Could it be that Lu Ci Qiu was really reborn?

"What else? What else do you know?"

Lu Ci Qiu thought about it and was not sure whether he should tell everything. He didn’t know if it would cause any bad effects.

"Brother, you have to be careful these two days. The prince will harm you and prevent you from going to the disaster relief. Then he will send his confidants to go, but you know that those people are corrupt officials who are only interested in money. In your previous life, you couldn't go because a civil servant named Zhao Wenbin went. He was greedy for a lot of money and caused many people to be displaced and starved to death in Lingnan."

"Zhao Wenbin was promoted just this year. He is very honest and has never been involved with any faction in the court. He goes home after finishing his official duties every day and has never socialized with any adults."

"This man is a wolf in sheep's clothing. He is actually the prince's man. He appears to be noble, but in fact, he is involved in all kinds of eating, drinking, whoring and gambling. He is extremely greedy for money. He took a lot of flood relief this time, but he put on a good show and seemed to have made great achievements, so the emperor rewarded him a lot all at once." Lu Ci Qiu was very disdainful of this man.

All of this information was found by Lu Zhixing through his own means in his previous life. However, because Lu Ci Qiu also entered the officialdom later, as an elder brother, he shared the information with his younger brother, hoping that he would pay more attention.

But Lu Zhixing obviously does not have the ability to grasp this information at the moment.

"So, you were really reborn?" Lu Zhixing still found it hard to believe. This matter was too fantastic.

"Brother, my brother, I have said so much, do you still think I am untrustworthy?" Lu Ci Qiu was heartbroken!

"I'll go back and think about it first. Wait for me. I'll come back to you when I have thought it through."

Lu Zhixing originally just wanted to know the answer, but he didn't expect the answer to be so exciting. For a moment he didn't know how to react, so he had to go back and think about it carefully.