Cui Shi was someone who considered himself to be romantic. When he saw such an outstanding beauty, he couldn't help but feel shocked. But this was the Liang Estate, and this woman was a member of the Liang Estate. How could he dare to be rude? He quickly lowered his head and bowed to her like a gentleman.
An Le changed into a virtuous lady, and even her voice became gentle. After exchanging a few words, Cui Shi was escorted to the study by Steward Liang. An Le's smile disappeared, and she put on a stern face again. She said to Wu Chongxun, "Scoundrel, you almost made me lose face in front of outsiders!"
Wu Chongxun smiled and said in a low voice, "I will accompany my wife back to the estate."
An Le waved her hand and said angrily, "I am not going back. If I am alone with you, it will be even more annoying. I will stay here for a few more days."
An Le flicked her sleeves, turned around, and walked towards the back of the residence. When Wu Chongxun heard that she wasn't leaving, he immediately heaved a sigh of relief. If his wife stayed here, then there was no need to worry. He knew that his wife had always been more restrained in his father's residence.
Wu Chongxun didn't follow her this time. How could he really be idle all day? Ever since the Dragon God's coup d 'état, he had taken on more official duties. Even if he didn't, he still had all sorts of social engagements to attend to. How could he just spend all day around his own woman?
Wu Chongxun was relieved that his wife wasn't leaving. He immediately called for his family to prepare a horse. When they heard that the prince was leaving the estate, a group of attendants naturally rushed over to wait. Wu Chongxun hurriedly called for two of his trusted aides and warned, "This prince is going to Duke Yan's Estate to attend a banquet. You two stay here. If the princess leaves the estate, immediately report to me."
His subordinates knew more about Princess An Le's messy affairs than he did. They listened to his instructions carefully, and the two trusted aides were a little embarrassed for him. The two quickly agreed. After Wu Chongxun left, the two family members had a discussion, and one guarded the front door, while the other guarded the corner door. They did their best to watch over their mistress.
Princess Anle angrily returned to the inner chamber. Seeing that Wu Chongxun did not follow her, she felt a little better. Thinking that Wu Yanxiu was still foolishly waiting at the Quchi, she summoned a personal maid and gave her some instructions. The maid obeyed and left.
Although An Le saw that Wu Chongxun did not pursue them, he knew that Wu Chongxun must be secretly watching them, so it was not a good time to leave. She impatiently went to the garden. Holding a circular fan, she gently chased away the bees and butterflies that came after smelling the fragrance. She thought to herself, "This glutton keeps guarding me all day and doesn't have any freedom. It's not a solution in the long run. Got it! "
An Le suddenly thought of an idea. If she went to plead with Father Emperor, she could say that her husband wanted to work for the court and wanted to get an official position. There was no need for him to go far away and he could just work in the capital region. Father Emperor would definitely agree. Her eunuch had always hoped that her eldest son would be successful and would be willing to give him some experience.
At that time, he would have no choice but to agree. Since it was near the capital region, he could return home at night, and it would be difficult for him to refuse. In that case, wouldn't he be free? As for him returning home at night, there was no need to worry. Given her status, she could not stay out at night.
An Le couldn't help but smile when she thought of this. She excitedly hopped onto a small bridge. A spring breeze blew past, causing her clothes to flutter. She looked like a fairy that was about to soar into the sky. Her figure was graceful and exceptionally beautiful.
An Le happily looked around. Suddenly, she saw an overhanging eave in the distance, hidden by the spring flowers and green grass. That was where her eunuch's study was located. An Le suddenly thought of the refined and handsome scholar she had just seen, and her heart couldn't help but flutter.
An Le pointed the circular fan towards the eaves, and then gave an order to a green-clothed servant girl behind him. "Go and ask around. Find out the name of the young master who just visited King Liang, and what his identity is!"
…
Cui Shi was rather surprised that King Liang was willing to meet him in the study. When he entered the study, he saw a few green-clothed servants bringing out a tray of fruits and tea. Only then did Cui Shi realize that King Liang wasn't interested in him. Instead, he was too lazy to move his imperial entourage to the throne room because he had a guest.
Cui Shi hurriedly said with an apologetic smile, "This one is Cui Shi, the Vice Minister of Examinations. Greetings to Your Highness, King Liang."
King Liang said arrogantly, "Dispense with the formalities. Rise and take a seat."
Cui Shi carefully sat down on the chair that the servants of the estate had brought over. He looked around the study, which had yet to be cleaned up. He coughed and said, "So Your Highness has a guest. This lowly official has not disturbed Your Highness' reception."
King Liang had purposely invited him to the study precisely so that he could witness this scene. Even if he hadn't asked, King Liang would have found a way to bring it up. Cui Shi's question was exactly what King Liang wanted. King Liang chuckled and said, "This guest is a saint. Is he someone you can disturb? May I ask why Vice Minister Cui has come to see this king? "
Cui Shi couldn't help but feel shocked when he heard that the emperor had just visited. At the same time, an indescribable excitement suddenly surged through his entire body. He had made the right decision to come here! Not only had the Wu clan's favor not declined, it had even surpassed its former glory! No wonder those who had performed meritorious deeds were so afraid of the Wu clan.
When King Liang asked another question, Cui Shi steeled his heart. He suddenly rose from his seat and solemnly cupped his hands towards Wu Sansi. "King Liang, please dismiss your attendants. This lowly official has something important to tell you!"
Wu Sansi was quite surprised. He didn't understand what kind of trick he was playing. Wu Sansi suspiciously chased his attendants out of the study. Cui Shi lifted the hem of his robe and bowed deeply. He said in a clear voice, "Your Highness, Cui Shi has been ordered to serve Your Highness as an inner servant. How could I dare to defy Your Highness's might? I have turned myself in today, and I beg Your Highness to forgive me! "
Wu Sansi was flabbergasted. He suddenly stood up, his eyes going wide as he sternly asked, "Who ordered you to serve me?"
Wu Sansi couldn't help but panic. He knew that Cui Shi was a member of the Taiping Sect. If Princess Taiping had sent someone to serve as an inner servant, then it was very difficult to guarantee that the Prince of Xiang was not involved in this matter. From this, it could be deduced that the emperor's repeated displays of goodwill also had ulterior motives.
Cui Shi respectfully replied, "This subject has received the orders of the Duke of Qi, the Minister of the Golden Throne, and the Palace Attendant Jinghui."
Wu Sansi's pupils constricted. Clenching his teeth, he hatefully spat out each word, "Meritorious minister's faction!"
… …
The light carriage quietly took Lu Binzhi out of the Cui Estate, traveling around Chang 'an for a long time. The carriage even drove to Longqing Square, slowly passing near the gate of the Yang Estate, and finally headed south along Vermilion Bird Avenue. The streets were noisy, but the carriages were quiet.
There were two people in the carriage. Lu Binzhi sat in the center seat, leaning back in his chair, his eyes half-closed as if he was asleep. Even when the carriage arrived at the gate of the Yang Estate, he did not open his eyes. To his side sat a middle-aged man of around forty years of age, his cheeks fleshless, his hands on his knees the entire time, his posture extremely respectful.
Only when a man hurrying by the carriage quickly sent a message into the carriage did the thin middle-aged man listen to the report. Lu Binzhi indifferently asked, "What is it?"
The thin middle-aged man turned his head and said, "Young Master, Cui Shi has gone to the Liang Estate."
Lu Binzhi faintly smiled and opened his eyes. The thin middle-aged man could not suppress his confusion and asked, "Young Master, this subordinate does not understand. Since Young Master favors Prince Liang of all the sects of the Imperial Court, why do we not approach him of our own accord, instead using Cui Shi?"
Lu Binzhi replied, "Because I favor the power of the clan behind Cui Shi. We want to replace the Obvious and Hidden Sects, but with our current strength, even if we can succeed, it will be very difficult to succeed. The deeper Cui Shi gets involved, the harder it will be to extricate himself. If one wishes to take, one must first give. "
Lu Binzhi was silent for a moment, then asked, "Where has Zheng Xuan been demoted to?"
The Zheng Xuan that Lu Binzhi spoke of was from Hebei Province's Cang County (Cang Prefecture). He was sponsored and supported by the Lu family to study and enter officialdom. At the age of seventeen, he became a Jinshi and could be considered a young talent. Not long after entering officialdom, he became an Imperial Censor. His future was limitless.
Unexpectedly, the Lu family was grounded for three years by Yang Fan, which indirectly affected their influence in the Imperial Court. Without a backer, Zheng Xuan stagnated in his original position. Seeing that there was no one in the Imperial Court, Zheng Xuan found it difficult to advance further, and there was no news of the Lu family for a long time, so he attached himself to Er Zhang.
It could be said that he was unlucky. It was not easy for him to make up his mind to rely on Er Zhang. In the end, as soon as he did, before Er Zhang entrusted him with an important task, the Dragon God Coup occurred. Zheng Xuan was implicated by the two of them and was also demoted from an Imperial Censor to a local official.
The thin middle-aged man respectfully replied, "Zheng Xuan is now in Xuzhou as an Imperial Censor."
Lu Binzhi said, "Think of a way to bring him back to Chang 'an. I have great use for him!"
Lu Binzhi did not ask to be removed from the Lu family until his grandfather passed away. However, he had always been very clear about the situation in the Imperial Court. He had never relaxed his watch on the Imperial Court, especially on Yang Fan. All these years in Fanyang, his eyes had always been fixed on Yang Fan's figure. Wherever Yang Fan went, his eyes followed. Therefore, he was very clear about the situation in the Imperial Court.
The carriage entered Tongji Lane in the south of the city and drove into a long narrow alley. It stopped at the end of the alley. Just a wall away was Qu River. The imperial bodyguard stepped forward and lightly knocked on the door knocker. The corner door of the house quietly opened, and the carriage quietly drove into the courtyard.
Lu Binzhi got out of the carriage and walked towards the veranda. There was already a man in black standing in the veranda. When Lu Binzhi walked over, the man bowed in greeting. Lu Binzhi didn't stop and walked past him. That person immediately turned around and followed Lu Binzhi.
"How is the matter on your side going?"
Lu Binzhi asked as he walked, not even turning his head.
The man replied, "This lowly one has selected a few people and is currently probing and contacting them. For the sake of caution, I have not revealed our goal or identity to them."
Lu Binzhi's large sleeves fluttered as he walked with great ease. "Mm! There's no need to be impatient for success. If half a year doesn't work, then one year. If one year doesn't work, then two years. If you can pull someone over in a month, I won't be so convinced. Dripping water can wear through a stone. Slowly work hard. "
The blue-clothed man respectfully replied, "Yes!"
Lu Binzhi turned a corner and continued to walk forward. "Jinghui originally came from Taiping's school, while Cui Xuanhui and Yuan Shuji originally came from the Prince of Xiang's school. Now, they've established their own schools, forming a faction with Zhang Jianzhi, Huan Yanfan, and the others.
Why did they betray their former masters? Because they wanted to pursue an even greater benefit. Pursuing profit is not a monopoly of merchants, but a human instinct. My brother nurtured so many people, but in the end, didn't they all betray him? It was only because betrayal allowed them to obtain even greater benefits.
In the end, this is the choice of the human heart. Humans have the instinct to seek benefits and avoid harm. The Succession Hall has quite a few disciples of the branches and branches of our Seven Sects and Five Clans who were unsuccessful in their ambitions. Because the Succession Hall gave them better prospects, they were loyal to the Succession Hall. When the situation is disadvantageous to them and we can give them even more benefits, they will naturally think of us. At that time … "
Lu Binzhi suddenly stopped and stared at the blue-clothed man, his eyes bright. "Everything Yang Fan did to my brother, I will return in its original form!"
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