Zhao Yu followed Mo Xuan to the study and stepped in. Once he saw Yang Fan, he bowed and greeted, "Erlang, it has been a long time!"
Yang Fan didn't get up and smiled faintly. "Please take a seat!"
Zhao Yu thanked him and sat down on the guest seat. He glanced at the door and saw that it was closed. He then said to Yang Fan, "Congratulations, Erlang, on your safe release from prison."
Yang Fan said, "There is nothing to congratulate about being released from prison. It is fortunate that I did not die in prison."
Zhao Yu laughed bitterly and said, "I knew Erlang would be resentful. Are you blaming me for not lending a helping hand?"
Yang Fan frowned and said, "I don't think that your Hidden Sect has the ability to reach the heavens. Whatever the White Horse Monastery's Abbot Huai Yi and Liang Wangwu couldn't do after much consideration, your Hidden Sect will definitely be able to do it. After all, your Hidden Sect has drifted away from the officialdom. Although you have countless connections with the officialdom, you are ultimately not as powerful as the influential nobles in the officialdom. But … "
Yang Fan's eyes narrowed as he stared at Zhao Yu.
Zhao Yu said calmly, "When Erlang was first imprisoned, we were caught unprepared. We were afraid that you could not endure the torture and would confess some unnecessary things. We made some preparations and then inquired about everything in prison. Not only did we want to rescue you, but we also wanted to … find some officials who are related to us!"
Zhao Yu changed his sitting posture and said calmly, "To be frank, our power in the bureaucracy is indeed limited. Our relationship with the bureaucracy is mainly controlled by Xian Zong. We are currently in a fierce battle with Xian Zong. We cannot borrow their power for this matter. Furthermore, even if Xian Zong is willing to help, they have no way to start with the rebellion case that the Emperor is most concerned about. It involves the major actions of the prime ministers. Erlang must understand this! "
Although Yang Fan didn't feel comfortable, he knew that Zhao Yu was speaking the truth. There was friendship and cooperation, but it wasn't realistic for Zhao Yu and Shen Mu to treat him like Maqiao and Chu Kuangge, who were willing to sacrifice their lives for him. Thus, he just nodded slowly.
Zhao Yu said, "After that, Xue Huaiyi and Wu Sansi failed one after another. According to our judgment, the odds are stacked against you. I just didn't expect that Princess Flatboard would make a move at this time … "
Zhao Yu's eyebrows twitched slightly. Apparently, he was thinking about the romantic affair between Yang Fan and Princess Taiping. Unexpectedly, he also looked Yang Fan up and down with curiosity. With a smile, he said, "Erlang, you are very capable! If my Third Uncle knew about this, I'm afraid he would also be convinced by you. "
His Third Uncle was naturally the Eldest Young Master Shen Mu, who was dissolute by nature. Yang Fan just snorted coldly and did not explain. This kind of thing, other than the person involved, no matter how you explain it to others, it would not change their preconceived ideas.
Zhao Yu laughed again and said, "Erlang, I don't wish to deceive you. Honestly speaking, if it was me or Xiao Fei who caused Zhang Yi to fall into such a predicament, the only thing the Hidden Sect could do would be to sever all connections! To save someone, one must have the ability to do so. If one's good friend is drowning, and one doesn't know how to swim, and there isn't anything to borrow strength from, could it be that one has to jump down with the other to be considered loyal? That is called foolishness.
If not, we can just die together. Even if we don't wish to be born together, the same month, the same day, and the same year, the pugilistic world's loyalty is not feasible, and it cannot be done. If my Hidden Sect adheres to this principle, we would have been finished a long time ago. If any of the important figures were to die, they might drag countless brothers along with them. In addition to their relatives and friends, wouldn't they have been executed countless times by the imperial court? Every time, they would have to kill tens of thousands of people. "
Yang Fan let out a light breath and said, "Forget it. I might be a little unhappy about this matter, but it is also human nature. Brother Zhao, please don't blame me. Logically speaking, I know that what you are doing isn't wrong! Just like … I admire the noble character and unquestionable integrity of the current court officials. If they are in trouble, I am willing to lend a helping hand, but it must be within my capabilities. Otherwise, I won't sacrifice my wife and family just to die with them! "
Yang Fan leaned forward slightly and said, "I believe that Brother Zhao's visit today isn't just to explain to this Yang that when this Yang was imprisoned, it wasn't that you didn't do anything, but that you didn't have the ability to do so. There must be something more important, right?"
Zhao Yu's expression turned serious and said, "That's right! I wonder what Erlang plans to do next? "
Yang Fan's handsome brows furrowed slightly, and he asked with doubt, "What plans?"
Zhao Yu said, "Exactly! You can't possibly think that after everything is settled, you can still return to the Featherwood Guard as a general, right? "
Yang Fan's eyes flickered slightly, but he didn't reply.
Zhao Yu smiled slightly and said, "I know. Although Erlang understands what we did when you were imprisoned, there is still a knot in your heart. This knot has to be slowly smoothed out with time. Similarly, you were imprisoned because of your conspiracy, and you were almost executed. Even if we find out that you were wrongly accused, there will still be a knot in your heart, in the heart of the Emperor, and in the hearts of you and the Emperor. Before this knot is untied, will the Emperor keep you by her side as a commander of the Imperial Palace Guards and an important general to protect her life? "
Hearing this, Yang Fan was startled and thought to himself, That's right! Why didn't I think of this? In the end, I'm still young. My experience is limited, and I'm not experienced enough when it comes to matters of human nature. I'm far inferior to these merchants who specialize in figuring out the thoughts of others.
Zhao Yu looked at his expression and knew that he had understood. He said, "Therefore, I came here today to remind Erlang to make plans early. No matter what, do your best not to leave the capital. The capital is a threshold. It's easy to leave, but difficult to return. Don't look at how many important officials of the court are demoted and promoted. They are demoted again and promoted again. That's because their official position, reputation, and ability have reached a certain level. The Emperor has long since taken note of them. When he needs to use them, he will naturally think of them. But you still can't. "
Yang Fan lightly grunted and thought to himself, If I can leave the capital, it's not necessarily impossible. It depends on where I go. The Emperor has always been gathering troops to attack the four towns of Anxi. If I go to the Western Regions to lead troops and others make great contributions, if no one reports to the Emperor, or if the higher-ups divide the contributions, there won't be much to reward in the capital. But I'm not the same. It's said that it's easy to be an official if there's someone in the court. As long as I make a contribution in the Western Regions, I'll definitely be able to reach the Emperor. Would I be afraid that I won't be able to be put in an important position?
But according to Zhao Yu, I'm afraid that the Emperor will soon issue an edict. Wan 'er is bound by an oath and is forcing herself to be happy in the palace. I don't know where A Nu has become a monk. If I don't ask about it, it will really chill her heart. If I don't solve the problem with the Princess, I can't guarantee that she won't find a way to bully Xiao Man … This body of emotional debt is really a headache … "
Zhao Yu saw him lowering his head in silence and his expression fluctuating. He said, "Erlang, you don't need to think too much. I'm just giving you a reminder. In reality, we are working on something that might be able to save the Prime Ministers from prison. Once they are safely released, they will more or less take care of you. The Emperor will probably have to leave for a while, but he might not be transferred out of the capital!"
Yang Fan suddenly raised his head and asked in surprise, "You have a way to save Grandmaster Di and the others?"
Zhao Yu laughed. "You think too highly of us. Perhaps in the long run, we aristocratic families have a way to guide the way. It's like a torrential flood. If we dig a ditch, the water will naturally follow the route we draw. There will be no trace of digging, and the Emperor will also take it for granted. But in the course of the flood, the boat capsizing depends on the force of the flood, and it's not something we can control. We can't even save you, so how can we save the Prime Ministers? The Prime Ministers were able to escape because of you! "
"If you're not guilty, then are the Prime Ministers guilty? The Emperor's mind will be shaken. Our method wouldn't normally be effective, but at this time, it's just pushing the boat with the current and giving the Emperor a reason. Whether blood will flow or the sun will shine, isn't it all up to the Emperor? "
Yang Fan couldn't help but ask, "What do you plan to do?"
Zhao Yu raised his hand and pointed upward. He smiled and said, "In ten days, we'll see some clues. Erlang, just wait and see!"
…
Wei Tuan'er paced back and forth slowly in her bedroom. Her expression was uncertain.
As one of the most favored female officials in the palace, her residence was very spacious and luxurious. Perhaps according to the specifications, it wasn't as big as the Empress' bedroom, but the furnishings and materials in the hall were far more luxurious and luxurious than the former Empress of the Tang dynasty and the current Crown Princess of the Zhou Dynasty.
The official Jing stood by the table, his eyes moving along with Wei Tuan 'er's movements. After a while, he couldn't help but say, "Sister Tuan' er, other than a villa in Golden Grain Garden, three hundred male and female servants, seven shops in the north of Luoyang, five thousand bolts of silk and satin, a thousand ingots of gold, and three hundred and sixty high-grade Persian gems …"
Wei Tuan 'er glared at him and said, "What do you know! Do you know how much responsibility this will entail? "
The official licked his thick lips and said softly, "Sister Tuan 'er, His Majesty is getting old. When His Majesty passes away, we don't know what the situation in the palace will be like. If Sister is released from the palace at that time, with this money, Sister will not have to worry about food and clothing for the rest of your life."
Wei Tuan 'er said unhappily, "Nonsense! The problem is, do you have the appetite to swallow it all! This is a matter of life and death! "
The official said softly, "Sister, this matter isn't easy, but it isn't difficult either. As long as you agree, I can settle this matter. In this palace, how can there be no place for us to intervene? Besides, His Majesty is looking at the Eastern Palace and is probably an eyesore. We are just going with the flow. Sister Tuan 'er, this opportunity doesn't come again … "
…
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