Sometimes, it didn't matter whether the emperor was wise or stupid. What was important was what kind of people were trusted by the emperor, or what kind of people were around the emperor.
If the emperor was not a villain, the remonstrants would just scold him. The emperor would probably laugh it off and even have the reputation of being wise.
If there were villains around the emperor, like the current Cai Yong, they might be thrown into prison and abandoned in the market.
Emperor Liu Hong looked at Liu Bei and slapped the table,""Alright, Liu Bei, promise me one condition and I will let you take Cai Yong away. You must know that someone suggested cutting him down, and I was about to issue an edict to exile him to Shuofang.”
Liu Bei knew that Liu Hong wasn't spouting nonsense. After thinking about it, he didn't find anything worth the Emperor's cousin's attention."Please instruct me, Brother Emperor."
"Liu Bei, if I have a secret edict for you in the future, you must obey it and swear an oath in the name of Liu.”Emperor Liu Hong couldn't think of any specific conditions.
Emperor Liu Hong had the intention to use Liu Bei as a foreign aid, so he didn't mind giving him some benefits.
It was just a mere Cai Yong. Liu Hong felt that he had profited.
"Your brother obeys." Liu Bei simply swore an oath in the name of Liu.
Liu Bei also felt that he had made a profit. Cai Yong was an important person who was indispensable in opening up the minds of the people. Not to mention that he could still follow the imperial edict to seek revenge in the future, he would definitely earn a lot.
"Zhang Liao, accompany Liu Bei to Luoyang Prison and pass on my orders that Cai Yong must leave the capital immediately.”Emperor Liu Hong immediately let Cai Yong go without hesitation.
"Here!" Zhang Rang, who had been silent all this while, looked at Liu Bei thoughtfully.
……
Under the leadership of Zhang Rang, Liu Bei and Dian Wei arrived at Luoyang Prison without any obstructions.
Dian Wei waited outside again. Liu Bei followed Zhang Rang into the prison and saw Cai Yong.
He saw Cai Yong sitting on the floor of the cell where he was being held, resting with his eyes closed. He looked like he had committed a crime and was being detained. It was like he was on vacation here, without any awareness of going to jail.
Liu Bei was both angry and convinced. He was angry that the emperor was not in a hurry and the eunuchs were in a hurry. Cai Yong, the person involved, was calm and composed, but he, who was outside, was anxious. They were impressed by Cai Yong's calm and unhurried loyalty that disregarded life and death.
Cai Yong's appearance also showed that he had not suffered any losses in prison. He had not been tortured or humiliated to extort a confession. Only then did Liu Bei truly feel at ease.
Liu Bei was really afraid that someone would kill Cai Yong in prison. In history, in order to deal with Cai Yong, these people would send killers and bribe people to poison him. They would use all kinds of despicable methods.
"His Majesty has ordered Cai Yong to leave the capital immediately.”Zhang Rang's words were emotionless.
Cai Yong slowly opened his eyes and looked at Zhang Rang, then at Liu Bei. He stood up and tidied his robes.
"Open the door." Zhang Rang gestured, and the jailer hurriedly opened the cell door.
Cai Yong immediately held his head high and puffed out his chest. Without saying anything, he walked out without looking back.
"Thank you, Lord Zhang." Liu Bei deliberately took a few steps back and took out a small notebook from his pocket that recorded the rules and playing methods of mahjong, as well as a portion of money that he had prepared beforehand, and stuffed it into Zhang Rang's head.
Zhang Rang's eyes twitched as he took the small book and the money into his sleeve. He did not say that Liu Bei was lying to the emperor, but only reminded him in a low voice,"Lord Marquis, quickly take Lord Cai away from Luoyang. Don't forget to betray His Majesty.”
Although Zhang Rang was not a good person, he knew that he was one with Emperor Liu Hong, so he still sided with Emperor Liu Hong.
This was also the main reason why Zhang Rang did not interfere when Liu Bei went to the palace to plead for Cai Yong.
It could be said that if Zhang Rang was even the slightest bit unwilling, Liu Bei would not have been able to fish out Mr. Cai Yong so smoothly.
Liu Bei nodded and replied softly," Lord Zhang, don't worry. I am a relative of the Han clan. I was personally conferred the title of Divine Marquis by the Emperor's brother."”
"Mm, that's for the best." Zhang Rang warned Liu Bei again.
"Of course, of course." Liu Bei knew that he would not have any interactions with Zhang Rang from now on, so he did not care too much about him. Instead, he was very humble.
Zhang Rang nodded and returned to the palace to report.
……
Cai Yong was in front, followed by Liu Bei and Dian Wei. The three of them silently returned to the Cai Residence.
From the moment they left Luoyang Prison to the entrance of the Cai Residence, Cai Yong had not said a single word. This made Liu Bei very worried about Cai Yong.
Well, he must not let Cai Yong, the great scholar of his generation, become a depressed person.
Liu Bei's worries were not wrong. Cai Yong was extremely depressed at this moment.
Cai Yong believed that even if he was imprisoned in Luoyang, Emperor Liu Hong would order him to be exiled to Shuofang. Cai Yong still firmly believed that Emperor Liu Hong would give him justice.
What Cai Yong didn't know was that if it wasn't for the constant attendant Lu Qiang, he would have been pushed to the market and beheaded.
What Cai Yong did not expect was that if Liu Bei had not intervened, he would have been homeless for the next ten years. His wife would have been separated from him, and he would have lived a miserable life.
Unfortunately, there was no evidence to prove that something had not happened, and no one believed it.
Even if the situation developed like this, Cai Yong still believed that he was right and would not be fine.
This was Cai Yong.
Cai Yong was not good at being an official, but he was good at learning. He was a good person. He had strength of character, feelings, faith, and perseverance. He was a real person.
……
"Master!" When he opened the door, Uncle Fu saw Cai Yong and choked up. After a while, he shouted,"Madam, Miss, Master is back!”
Madam Cai held Cai Yan's hand and stumbled over. Lady Cai threw herself into Cai Yong's arms with tears in her eyes.
"Father!" Cai Yan obediently and sensibly stood at the side and called out, her pair of beautiful big eyes also brimming with tears.
"Madam, daughter, I'm back.”Cai Yong hugged Madam Cai and carried his daughter Cai Yan, only then did he realize how wrong he was.
Cai Yong pulled Madam Cai with one hand and carried his daughter Cai Yan with the other as they walked into the house. He turned to Liu Bei and said,""From now on, the matters of the Han Dynasty have nothing to do with me.”
"Sir." Liu Bei didn't know how to respond. He didn't expect Cai Yong to let go of his obsession so easily. Compared to before, he was like a completely different person.
Cai Yong smiled and said,"Thank you, Xuande."”
"Teacher, this is what I should do.”Liu Bei was really confused.
Cai Yong nodded and told Uncle Fu,"Uncle Fu, pack up. Other than the ten thousand books, do as you see fit. We will leave Luoyang immediately.”
"Father, can I leave the library to Yan 'er and Shixiong to clean up?”Cai Yan, who had experienced storms, was so sensible that it made one's heart ache.
"Good, good, hahaha!" Cai Yong laughed heartily.
A moment later, the sound of a zither came from the back hall.
Amid the melodious music of the zither, the Cai Residence was brightly lit.
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。