In danger, he traveled through time to save her, and the black-bellied prince doted on her

The teacher who had exhausted all his efforts lost his entire life at the hands of his own students. Meng Songqing could not bear to see Emperor Hui making a big mistake and being blamed by the people of the world in the future. He would do his best to save Emperor Hui's conscience.

With a loud thump, the fragile bones hit the hard floor tiles. Meng Songqing knelt in front of the students, trembling:

"Your Majesty, I am only a humble servant and I dare not take credit for being the Imperial Teacher. But if Your Majesty holds the orphans of the Prince of Jin hostage, the world will accuse them and future generations will criticize them. This will be the fault of this teacher. I beg you to spare the children with my life."

Zhang Zhaoben forced Meng Songqing to resign, but Meng Songqing wanted to die, so he fulfilled his wish and slandered him:

"Your Majesty, if every minister threatens his life and blood is spilled in the imperial hall, how can you govern the country? Master Meng is clearly working with the Prince of Jin, your son-in-law, to seize your throne. With such sinister intentions, he is guilty of conspiracy and treason. Since Master Meng was once your teacher, leave his body intact and exile the entire Meng family."

When Emperor Hui saw Meng Songqing's knees were shaking, he felt a dull pain in his heart and a helpless expression flashed across his face:

"Teacher, are you forcing me like this? Xie Chibei wants to seize the throne, are you going to abandon me and stand behind him? Master Meng formed a clique for personal gain, and the entire Meng family was exiled to Qizhou."

How could Meng Songqing not understand his own student? He was cowardly and incompetent, mediocre in talent, jealous and suspicious. On the day he obtained imperial power, Emperor Hui's years of fear finally dissipated. He could not wait to play power games and wanted to emulate the young Emperor Ming, but he was bewitched by treacherous ministers and the court was in chaos.

Meng Songqing worked hard for the Sheng Kingdom for half his life, and Lin Xiuyuan, who had been the prime minister for eight years, could not find any evidence against him. However, four months after his student ascended the throne, he framed him with a crime.

Meng Songqing took off his official hat and stroked the official robe he had worn all his life. He changed from dark green to scarlet, and then to purple. He had been an official for more than 40 years. He was honest and upright, loyal and devoted. He was on the road to success, but was shattered by the tyrant. The cold spring wind made his robe cold, just like his inner disappointment. His loud voice echoed in the golden palace where countless people had died:

"I have never conspired to rebel. Please do not accuse me of treason and slander me. Although I have not done much for the country, I have served the country with all my heart and soul. Please leave me a clean and loyal reputation."

"If a son is not well-educated, it is the fault of his father. If a child is not well-educated, it is the fault of his teacher. Your Majesty, please forgive Meng. I am willing to die to prove my innocence."

The white-haired Meng Songqing suddenly stood up and rushed towards the golden pillar in front of the dragon throne. His weathered eyes were filled with iron and blood. He used the last bit of his strength in his old age to crash into the imperial power.

"Ah!" The deep and trembling voice struck the hearts of all officials like thunder.

A streak of blood splashed onto the golden pillar, then slid down the wrinkled forehead and soaked the silver hair at the temples of Meng Songqing, like a summer glow appearing on a snowy day, brilliant and dazzling, yet miserable and sad.

Xue Zecheng's deep eyes were filled with compassion, and he harbored resentment towards Emperor Hui. Such a loyal and good minister worked hard all his life, but died amid the emperor's suspicion and the eunuchs' arrogant slander.

Huang Guo's mind went blank for a moment. Before Mu Jinan helped him, there was one person who always smiled whenever he saw him and never thought he was an ugly man. That person was Meng Songqing.

Meng Songqing often reminded his students not to criticize Huang Guo, and gave Huang Guo two books on military strategy from his collection.

Huang Guo's eyes were filled with tears. Master Meng, who could have retired and lived in seclusion, died in front of him. His limbs were stiff and his throat was unable to make any sound.

Emperor Hui's heart tightened and tears fell. His admired teacher, the Grand Tutor Meng, whom he regarded as his father, had crashed into the hall. He walked down the nine steps with trembling steps, hurriedly ran to Meng Songqing, and hugged Meng Songqing tightly:

"Send the imperial physician, Master, I just want you to go to Qizhou, why are you hurting yourself?"

Emperor Hui shouted again: "All of you go wait outside the palace."

Seeing this scene, all the officials had to leave, and only Meng Songqing and Emperor Hui were left in the hall.

Emperor Hui recalled that he had designed a secret meeting between Concubine Shu and Prince of Qi, and was punished by Emperor Ming. Emperor Ming took off Meng Songqing's official robe in the hall and asked him if it was the father's fault if the son was not well educated. The next sentence was, "Tutor Meng's failure to teach strictly is the teacher's laziness."

In the past, Emperor Hui only listened to Meng Songqing's words. Since Pei Yun, Zhang Zhao and Zhao Fu appeared, he went astray and almost forgot the words benevolence and virtue.

Emperor Hui hugged Meng Songqing's frail body tightly. His former archery master was now just a pile of bones. Bitterness and heaviness filled his heart, and he cried like a child:

"Teacher, I am mediocre and cannot be a match for Xie Chibei. I have already taken the throne, so I cannot let him take it away from me."

"Mu Jinan supported me to ascend the throne. I severely injured her in the mourning hall and forced her to marry. She was suppressing the rebellion and the war, but I issued an imperial decree to prevent her from returning to the city, causing her to be injured and in a coma for three months."

"Even if Xie Chibei doesn't want the throne, he will avenge Mu Jinan. He is thousands of miles away, and a ninth-rank official is willing to risk his life for him in the court. How can I not get rid of him?"

"When my four brothers died, I was afraid. When I was framed by Lin Xiuyuan, I was afraid. When my father suspected me, I was afraid. When I sit on the throne, I am even more afraid. I am afraid that I will be the one whose blood is splattered on the throne."

"You will be exiled to Lingnan. I will not harm your family. I just want you to go to Qizhou so that the court officials will learn from you and will not dare to disobey me."

Meng Songqing stroked Emperor Hui's cheek with trembling fingertips. At this moment, there was no power suspicion between them. They were just teacher and student.

If we go back many years, Emperor Hui was still a kind and benevolent young prince. He would personally make Cuju for his teacher, tie his hair, and copy Buddhist scriptures to pray for him.

Emperor Hui may not be a good king, but he is a good boy. Unfortunately, he was born in an imperial family and went astray step by step amid suspicion and conspiracy.

Meng Songqing's sunken eyes were glistening with tears. He was still like the one who used to sit at his desk, teaching Xie Xu earnestly and patiently, and comforting the emperor in front of him:

"Xingzhou, you govern the country and love the people according to what your teacher taught you, inherit the prosperity of Zhongxing and carry the prosperity of the nine states. The throne will not be shaken. I beg Your Majesty to cancel the engagement with Meng Ying. I have only this one daughter when I was old. I can't bear to see her trapped in the harem. This old minister begs you..."

Xingzhou was Xie Xu's nickname. He had never called it in front of others, and others did not know his nickname. He was born in a humble family. Emperor Ming never hugged him once, nor did he give him a nickname. It was Meng Songqing who gave him a nickname. Although he was mediocre, his teacher did not despise him and still had high hopes for him. However, he forced his father and teacher, Taifu Meng, to death.

Xie Xu clearly felt the hand caressing his cheek falling. The only master who treated him as a son and student left him just like that. He cried:

"Teacher, in the next life, we will be father and son, not king and subject."

Xie Xu gently stroked Meng Songqing's eyes, hugged his teacher's body and sat in the cold hall, his mind filled with many memories.

After a long while, the cold spring wind blew on his eyebrows. Meng Songqing had already left Xuanzheng Hall. Xie Xu sat back on the bone-chilling dragon chair and glanced at the officials from above. He calmed down his sadness:

"Xue Zecheng, lead the troops immediately and escort the orphan to the palace."

Xue Zecheng's eyes sank slightly. Meng Songqing had threatened to die in order to persuade the king, but Emperor Hui did not repent. He was not as calm as before, and a resolute look appeared on his face:

"Your Majesty, orphans are also citizens. Shouldn't the emperor protect his subjects? Why do you insist on taking their lives? The court should have properly placed these children. The King of Jin should have raised them and fulfilled his duties for the court and the royal family. Why are you threatening them? I'm sorry, I cannot obey your order."

Emperor Hui seemed to have heard the second person who had disobeyed the emperor's order with his head on the line. Meng Songqing was his teacher, so he was merciful and soft-hearted. Xue Zecheng was just a member of the Shen Yao Army, and the emperor vowed to kill him as a warning to the rest. A furious voice came from high above, lifting the thousands of tiles in the Xuanzheng Hall and falling on the heads of all the officials:

"Xue Zecheng, disobeying my order is punishable by death. How dare you disobey my order with your imperial seal? Are you colluding with the King of Jin to seize my throne?"

Xue Zecheng was ashamed of Emperor Hui's selfishness and hypocrisy. He arbitrarily accused him of conspiracy and asked him to escort the orphans. This move would make him regret for the rest of his life. As a general of Shengguo, a court official, and the son of the Duke of Zhenguo, how could he do such an evil thing? He calmly went to his death:

"Your Majesty, I have never colluded with anyone. If the enemy comes to the city in the future, I will protect Your Majesty at all costs. But as for the orphans in the Prince of Jin's Mansion, I cannot obey your order. Please spare their lives."

There seemed to be some blood of Meng Songqing still left in the hall, the blood-red color soaking into Emperor Hui's dark pupils. He stood up, drew out the long sword of the imperial guard, walked down the ninth step, and the sword's tip scratched across the bluestone bricks, making a sharp and piercing sound.

All officials were horrified. Emperor Hui had just forced Meng Songqing to death, and now he was forcing Xue Zecheng and pointing swords at court officials. Wasn't this what Emperor Ming did?

Emperor Hui stood in front of Xue Zecheng and looked at the Second Master Xue, the Duke of Zhenguo, whom his father, Emperor Ming, had once weighed. Emperor Ming did not allow Xue Haiping to return home to visit his relatives, nor did he allow the brave and warlike Xue Zecheng to go to the battlefield.

Xue Zecheng has lived with his father Xue Haiping in Hu Yu since he was a child. He was determined to defend his country and once said when he was young that he would die on the battlefield in his life.

Xue Zecheng was a gifted man and a martial arts prodigy. He was known as the Divine Martial Child when he was young. He compiled military tactics at the age of ten, went to war with his father at the age of twelve, and fought to the death with the enemy in the fire battle of Liangzhou at the age of sixteen, defeating fifty thousand with only two thousand. From the twenty-sixth to the twenty-ninth year of Tongyuan, when Sheng Kingdom experienced three years of war, he also recovered ten cities.

Xue Zecheng was originally the second son of the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion, but Emperor Ming still conferred him the title of Marquis Wu'an on him. However, few people called him Marquis Wu'an because he liked people to call him General Xue.

It was as if he was still in Hu Yu's military camp, still fighting on the battlefield, and he lived up to his words that when he saw the cunning enemy captured in the clouds, he knew that there were generals in heaven.

In the past, his brothers often called him the Second Young Master Xue, saying that it sounded like a dashing and romantic man, but they also often joked that he was still unmarried at the age of 22 and lived like a monk.

What Xue Zecheng wanted to do most was to put on armor and go into battle in times of war, but since he was named Marquis of Wu'an, he was kept in Sheng'an City by Emperor Ming and served as a cavalry commander of the imperial army to guard the imperial city and the foolish emperor.

Over the past six years, the Tubo tribe has been harassing Hu Yu, and there have been several small battles on the border. Emperor Ming did not allow him to leave Sheng'an City. Last year, when the Southern Kingdom led an army of 100,000 to attack Yaozhou, Xue Zecheng retired from the court and begged Emperor Ming to allow him to go to the expedition, even if he was to be the vanguard for Mu Jingyi. However, Emperor Ming was worried that he would be promoted for military merit or would want to go to Hu Yu, so he did not allow him to go.

Xue Zecheng had no way of promotion until Mu Jinan appeared in the watchtower and took away his red spear. He saw the heroic woman for the first time, who was more graceful and beautiful than the banished immortal in the painting.

Xue Zecheng chose to keep Mu Jinan's words, and Emperor Ming gave him the position of deputy lieutenant of the Shen Yao Army Guard. He was promoted with the help of Mu Jinan, and it was his first promotion in six years.

Xue Zecheng fell in love with Mu Jinan at first sight and was ready to propose marriage. However, when he was escorting the money back from Yaozhou, the whole Ziming Palace was spreading the rumor that Mu Jinan was going to get married.

Xue Zecheng hurried to find her before he even took off his armor, and even wanted to wait for her to divorce and marry her as his only wife.

When the imperial edict ordered Mu Jinan to marry a foreign princess, he was determined to elope with Mu Jinan, as long as Mu Jinan could survive.

Mu Jinan had also recommended him and got him a military selection and a job to train in Modao cavalry combat, which comforted his dark soul that had been unable to realize his ambitions for many years.

Before four months had passed, the new emperor had given power over the imperial guards to the eunuchs.

Xue Zecheng once saw a peacock eating bayberries delivered by the sacrificial cavalry outside the palace. He told this story at Concubine Shu's birthday banquet, and they worked together to ask for food and salary for the heroes of the Battle of Yaozhou.

Xue Zecheng didn't know how many achievements a court official had to make to be considered a meritorious official. He felt that he had protected the people, defended the territory, and defeated the enemy.

Xue Zecheng is a hero!

But today, Xue Zecheng stands on the land passed down by generations of emperors. The mountains, seas and rivers are no longer surging, the sun, moon and stars are no longer shining brightly, and the imperial power is like a dark cloud pressing down on the heads of loyal ministers and generals.

Emperor Hui's eyes were filled with anger, and he thrust a long sword at him: "Since this is the case, I will spare your kindness, and anyone who dares to plead for mercy will be put to death."

The cold light of the sword blade kissed the side of Xue Zecheng's neck. He raised his eyebrows and saw clearly that the blood was dripping down and soaking his official robe.

Xue Zecheng looked northwest in the direction of Hu Yu, and thought of the battle in Liangzhou. He lost his third brother in that fire, and he often missed his brothers who died in the battle. The general did not die in the bloody battlefield, but died in the emperor's suspicion and calculation, and died in the court hall dozens of feet away.

The passion in Xue Zecheng's eyes never faded. He looked at the hypocritical and cruel emperor, as if he was standing in front of thousands of troops, leading the soldiers to charge into battle. His sonorous and powerful voice spread throughout the battlefield, making the enemy retreat in fear:

"Don't laugh at me for sleeping drunk on the battlefield. How many men have ever returned from a battle? Your Majesty, I will die on the battlefield, not in the court."

The big flag fluttered in the wind. Xue Zecheng, wearing armor and holding a red spear, rushed into the enemy camp. He chopped off the enemy general's head with one spear. He raised the bloody head and raised his arm, shouting, "We won!"

Suddenly, Xue Zecheng's body shook, and he turned around to find that it was his compatriot who stabbed him with a sword. This added a touch of resentment and soul-destroying pain to the six years when he had made great military achievements in his youth but was suppressed out of fear.

The sword cut through his resolute heart, and his soul drifted away in the cold wind of the northern frontier. He could not find the way to the battlefield, nor could he return to his parents' arms.

Bright red blood dripped along the sword blade onto the green floor tiles of the Xuan Zheng Hall. The tiny ripples gradually turned into a bloody rain, and Xue Zecheng fell in a pool of blood.

Blood flowed onto his lips and tongue, drowning his fiercely beating heart. Xue Zecheng lay on the cold floor with his head slightly raised. The high vermilion threshold blocked his view of the distant Hu Yu border.

Xue Zecheng could no longer hold on, his head fell heavily on the floor, his sad eyes were soaked with tears, mixed with blood sliding down his face. He moved his fingers, wanting to grab his father and mother, wanting to grab his third brother who died in the battle, wanting to grab the wind of the border, wanting to keep Mu Jinan.

Xue Zecheng's hands, which were worn down by swords, fell down as he lost his breath, and his eyes were full of regret and pain. He was loyal to the emperor and wanted to fight for the people, but he died in the court full of conspiracy and intrigue.

A wisp of residual soul flew thousands of miles away. Xue Zecheng saw his father, who had guarded Hu Yu for more than 30 years, with gray hair. He saw hundreds of brothers who were burned to death in the fire battle in Liangzhou. He saw his most beloved third brother, who pushed him out of the fire pit and saved his life.

Fighting for the country is the third brother's belief. He lives for his third brother and wants to realize his wish, but he never has the chance to go to the battlefield again. There are countless loyal ministers and generals who have experienced ups and downs in officialdom and died at the hands of treacherous officials and imperial power. Xue Zecheng is one of them.

The Xue family, Duke of Zhenguo, was full of loyal and righteous people, but they met a cold-blooded emperor. Xue Zecheng's soul could not rest in peace. He lay in the bright and beautiful Sheng'an City, in the cold and ruthless Xuan Zheng Hall, letting his blood flow in the long river of history.