Lu County was a small county. Not only was the county's post office small, but the magistrate's house was also not worth the attention of the capital's officials.
Therefore, Zhu Panpan and her husband came up with an ingenious idea and simply made the bamboo forest their home. They invited Yang Ling to live in this place where the shadows of the bamboo swayed and the green was as soft as the sea. The natural beauty was enough to make up for the lack of extravagance. Yang Ling entered the house and was filled with fragrance. When he left the house, his eyes were filled with green. He really liked it here.
His house had a bamboo fence as the courtyard. It was a row of three bamboo houses with a bedroom, a study, and a place for washing and bathing.
Yang Ling sat in the exquisite bathtub, which was made of wood and bamboo on the outside. He grabbed a handful of green salt and tea leaves and sprinkled them into the water, rippling the clear water. He closed his eyes contentedly, resting his head on a white silk handkerchief beside the bathtub. He let out a long sigh and said, "If only we were at home. Let Yu 'er give me a massage.
At this point, he suddenly remembered that Gao Wenxin's soft and jade-like hands were the real expert in this field. Just a pair of hands could make one feel as comfortable as an immortal. Yang Ling was even more attached to the Marquis's residence in Gao Village. That place was built by himself and Young-niang. Now that the family was flourishing, it was only there that he could relax the most.
After a pause, he said: "Tell me, I've already experienced a knife to my neck. Now I'm used to it. Hanchao, don't be so nervous. Whether it's the Emperor or a powerful official, as long as you're high up, there will definitely be people who want to take you down. Haha, on this trip to Bashan and Shu, I didn't even think about it. What happened? "
Wu Hanchao smiled bitterly: "Daren, don't be anxious. I have a heavy responsibility on my shoulders. Just now when I was patrolling in the forest, I was alarmed to find someone spying on us. This person's martial arts skills are not below mine. Moreover, he immediately escaped without any hesitation. He made a prompt decision and judged the situation. His scheming is extraordinary. "
"Oh? To be able to make Hanchao praise him so highly, he must be very good. "Yang Ling's brows moved. He opened his eyes and said:" If it was me, how many moves can I take from him? "
Wu Hanchao was taken aback for a moment before he bluntly said, "Sir, you are naturally intelligent and have an excellent physique. You are indeed a rare talent for martial arts …"
Yang Ling waved his hand and said, "Alright, alright. Let's not play around. I know what I'm capable of. Just tell me the truth."
Wu Hanchao laughed dryly and said, "Ahem, one move."
"Huh?" Yang Ling stared at Wu Hanchao for a long time before saying, "Am I that bad?"
Wu Hanchao explained, "If it's a fair duel, Daren can withstand ten moves. If you want to risk your life, the other party will definitely use his finishing move. Milord hasn't been practicing martial arts for a long time, your kung fu is still not mature enough, and you have too little fighting experience. The opponent is also good at using concealed weapons, so … "
Yang Ling's face twitched. "That … Don't say anymore. Prepare two barrels of Plum Blossom Sleeve Crossbow for me. Also, get me a belt and take out the gun that Adeni gave me from the box. I want to wear it."
Wu Hanchao held back his laughter and said, "Yes, do you want a spare soft armor?"
"Yes!" Yang Ling said hatefully, "I want to be fully armed! Fighting with the heavens is endless joy. Fighting with the earth is endless joy. Fighting with others is endless joy. "
Wu Hanchao saw that Yang Ling was about to go crazy and hurriedly said, "Don't worry, Daren. I will not leave your side and protect Daren's safety at all times."
Yang Ling was quiet for a moment before he suddenly said faintly, "Haha, I was just joking with you. Sometimes, people can't fight with their lives. It's fine as long as you do your best. In a distant foreign country, there was once an all-powerful person who choked to death on a strand of sheep's wool while drinking milk. There was another who was even more unlucky. He was walking on the road when a turtle fell from the sky and crushed him to death, just because he was bald …
Hanchao, do you know? I am really a little afraid of coming to Sichuan this time. I keep feeling that there will be great danger but I can't not come. If … if I really die here, it is also God's will. You don't have to feel guilty. When that time comes, please be my children's master and teach them good skills. Help me … help me take care of them. "
Wu Hanchao saw that Yang Ling's expression was solemn and did not look like he was joking. He was thinking hard about how a turtle fell from the sky and coincidentally crushed a person to death. What was the connection between baldness and death? Suddenly, he heard Yang Ling's last words. He could not help but be horrified and said, "Daren, you … how can you say such things?"
Yang Ling shook his head gently and changed the topic, "Did you not find out his identity?"
Wu Hanchao shook his head. Yang Ling nodded and said, "If that's the case, the Lu County Magistrate and his wife, the local County Magistrate, and those scholars should not be suspicious. I am among them. If they want to find out why I am here, there is really no need to arrange for someone to sneak in. If they want to kill me, they will not do it in their own home. "
He thought for a moment and said, "There is no other way. We are in the open and he is in the dark. His purpose is not clear and he cannot be found. We can only wait for him to strike again. Be careful and don't let this burden you."
Wu Hanchao agreed. At this time, Liu Bangchao poked his head in and said in a rough voice, "Daren, Daren Liu has rushed over from Chengdu."
Yang Ling said happily, "Liu Biao is here? Quickly let him in. "
Wu Hanchao knew that Liu Biao must have something confidential to report. He quickly bowed and turned to leave. When he reached the door, he bumped into Liu Biao. Wu Hanchao smiled and turned sideways. The two greeted each other. After Liu Biao entered the room, Wu Hanchao flashed out of the room and gently closed the door.
Liu Biao excitedly walked forward and said, "Daren, this lowly officer has missed you to death."
Yang Ling joked, "You can miss me if you miss me. You don't have to die. Haha, it has been a few months since you secretly went to Sichuan. Is there any progress in the investigation? "
* * *
Wu Hanchao left the room and saw Song Ai still waiting for him in the bamboo forest. He walked over to her.
Song Ai asked, "What did Daren say? Should we send people to search around and inform the local authorities to pay attention to passersby? "
Wu Hanchao shook his head and said, "Since the other side came prepared, how could they leave traces for us to search? Daren's idea is to use silence to deal with changes. After finding out the enemy's intention, we can strike later. "
Song Ai touched her chin and said suspiciously, "Eh? No wonder he is a Wudang disciple. Why is it similar to what you said when you taught me the sword technique? "
Wu Hanchao hurriedly looked around nervously and raised his finger, "Shh, don't talk nonsense. You must not say anything about me teaching you martial arts. It is a taboo in Wulin, a taboo in Wulin! "
Song Ai curled her lips and blurted out, "Husband teaches wife, God … uh …" As soon as she said it, she felt it was inappropriate and blushed in embarrassment.
Wu Hanchao was also a little embarrassed. He suddenly remembered the riddle from earlier and hurriedly said, "Oh yes, in the Han stories, there has never been a story where a tortoise fell from the sky and hit him on the head, killing him. Have you guys heard of it before?"
Song Ai touched his forehead and asked, "Are you having a fever? Why are you talking nonsense? "
Wu Hanchao laughed dryly and said, "I heard it from Daren. I don't think he is joking, so it must be true."
Song Ai suddenly understood and said, "Oh, it was Daren who said it. Then it must be true. Daren is extremely talented and knowledgeable from ancient to modern times, Chinese and foreign countries, all-inclusive. It is not surprising that you do not know."
Wu Hanchao said jealously, "Is Daren as good as you say? We haven't even reached Chengdu and you are already possessed by Zhuge Liang. "
Song Ai covered her mouth and giggled. She bumped his shoulder intimately and said with a smile, "What are you doing? Are you jealous? Tsk, you are still a man! "
While the two of them were flirting outside, Liu Biao had already given a detailed account of the investigation in Chengdu. He then said, "In short, Sichuan does not appear to be as peaceful as the rumors in the capital say. The common people do not live and work in peace, and are not bullied or humiliated.
There are many tribes here and wars often break out. Although there is not much movement, it has never been peaceful. It is just that the riots are suppressed by the local government in time. The local government inevitably reports peace for the sake of political achievements. As for the people, the King of Shu has been in business for more than a hundred years and has already annexed sixty to seventy percent of the land in Sichuan. Most of the people are tenants and rely on the King's residence to make a living.
Therefore, although there are no signs of the King of Shu rebelling, if the King of Shu wants to rebel, he can immediately gather all the people in Shu because the people here are all his family servants. Therefore, of course he does not care about transferring a commander and some officers. This does not mean that he has no intention of rebelling. The local guards, especially the middle and lower ranking officers, are all locals who have lived here for more than a hundred years. They have completely assimilated into Sichuan … "
Yang Ling said appreciatively, "You are much smarter than before to be able to think this way. However, this alone cannot prove that the King of Shu has the intention of rebelling. The King of Shu has always been known as a virtuous person among the vassal kings. This is not fishing for praise. However, any evaluation depends on who makes the evaluation and from what perspective.
In the eyes of the emperors of each generation, the King of Shu knows his place and is loyal to the royal family. In the eyes of the court officials, the King of Shu does not interfere with government affairs and is not corrupt. In the eyes of the literati, the King of Shu builds bridges and roads and runs folk schools. Such a person is naturally a good vassal king. Do you still expect that since you are called a virtuous king, you will have to serve the world? You will have to treat all the people of Shu as your family? Hehe, that is naturally impossible. "
He thought for a moment and said, "Is it true that the King of Shu is sick?"
Liu Biao said, "Yes, it is a strange illness. Many famous doctors have been invited to treat it. It does not seem like he is faking it. I have once sent people to hire a physician from him and the Daoist from the Qingyang Palace to inquire about it. All of them said the same thing. If a person wants to pretend to be sick, the fewer people there are, the easier it is to conceal it. There is no reason to make a big fuss and fear that the world does not know about it.
However, I dare to make a bold guess. Since there is a record of the King of Shu wanting to rebel in Dongchang, but there is no movement now, other than the fact that Dongchang's information is not accurate, is it possible that the King of Shu is sick and thus gave up on the idea of rebellion? "
"Anything is possible. However, without evidence, a dignified vassal king, and a most virtuous one at that, the court cannot do anything. Investigate, we must investigate first. This matter cannot be rushed. Since you have come from Chengdu, you must understand the situation in the capital. How is it over there? "
"Yes, a lack of information is a great taboo for the Factory Guards. A timely piece of news is worth a million soldiers and ten thousand taels of gold. When the Inner Factory was first established, this was personally instructed by you. How can I forget it?"
Liu Biao said with a smile, "I am in Chengdu and have always been in close contact with the capital. Just as you set off for the west, Master Cheng ordered the capital to shift the focus of information to Chengdu. I have a letter here from Jiao the Scholar in the capital to deliver to you. However, as soon as I entered the door, I started talking about the King of Shu and delayed it."
As Liu Biao said this, he took out a letter from his bosom and respectfully handed it to Yang Ling.
Yang Ling grabbed a large towel from the side of the tub and wiped his hands clean. After verifying that there was no doubt about the fire, he tore open the letter and quietly read it.
In Jiao Fang's letter, she described in detail what had happened in the months after Yang Ling left the capital and gave a detailed analysis of the current political situation in the court. From the letter, it could be seen that this Minister Jiao was extremely anxious and out of his wits.
The major powers in the capital were Yang Ling's faction, Liu Jin's faction, the senior statesmen's faction, and the centrist faction. The civil and military officials of the court, as well as the internal and external ministers, were basically all attached to these four factions.
Yang Ling's faction had firm control over the military system and the secret service. Liu Yu was in charge of the Ministry of War. Yang Ling's influence in the army was growing day by day. He had now replaced Liu Daxia as the soul of the army. As for the Three Plantations and One Guard, on the surface, they were perfunctory towards Liu Jin, but on the inside, they were completely following Yang Ling's lead. Liu Jin was well aware of this. However, at the moment, he still did not have the confidence to fight a direct battle with Yang Ling. As long as these people did not drag him down, he temporarily did not have the time to worry about them.
In the Ministry of Punishments, the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Works, and other yamens, Yang Ling had planted a few people. These people could not be considered to have the power to decide the actions of a yamen. They could only be considered as eyes and ears to facilitate the execution of certain matters. In the cabinet, it was Jiao Fang who coordinated with him.
Liu Jin's faction controlled the internal court and the Ministry of Appointments. On the surface, it seemed that his power was above Yang Ling's. Because he controlled the internal court, he controlled the memorials of the officials and the communication between the Emperor and the officials. This indirectly meant that he controlled the court.
After controlling the Ministry of Appointments through Zhang Cai, Liu Jin held the power to transfer and demote all the officials in the world. The registration, grading, examination, conferment, and reward of officials were all under his control. Anyone who wanted to be promoted had to beg Liu Jin's tutelage. His power would rise to a new level. This was the reason why Liu Jin had not hesitated to compromise with Li Dongyang and Yang Tinghe, and gave up the positions of the other yamens.
The power of the elder faction was the Department of Science. In contrast to Liu Jin, who was in charge of raising people up, they were in charge of smashing people down. Their sphere of influence was the six departments, the Imperial Censorate, and the Hanlin Academy. They were the legal supervision system and the mouthpiece of propaganda.
This faction did not seem to have any real power. The officials under them either had very low positions, some of them were only sixth-rank or seventh-rank, or they all had idle positions. They usually wrote poems and painted. No one would visit them in a year to ask them to do something.
But if you didn't look for them, they could look for you. Although these people did not have high positions, a seventh-rank could still impeach a first-rank. They had great political lethality. They were in charge of supervising the achievements of the officials, inspecting the incorruptibility of the counties, and correcting judicial injustice. Although they were quite annoying, they were also quite terrifying. If they really got hold of a handle, even if they didn't die, they could still skin the person alive.
Yang Ling had no handle on him, and he was deeply favored by the Emperor. He had great power in his hands, but these people had once made a handle on him and put him in a difficult position. Even now, his reputation was not very good in some places. This was the work of this group of people.
The core figures of this faction, Ma Wensheng, Liu Daxia, Hangul, and other core leaders, had left their posts one after another. Now, the talents had withered. At present, the nominal leaders were Li Dongyang, Yang Tinghe, and a few elders from the Hanlin Academy and the Imperial Censorate. But they were not like Yang Ling and Liu Jin, who gave orders, and the organization of power was somewhat loose.
This gave Liu Jin an opportunity. When Hangul fell, Liu Jin took the opportunity to threaten and entice them. He gave them official titles and made wishes. He roped in some of the people in the Department of Science who did not care about morality at the sight of profit and worked for him. The supervision system and the propaganda system split, and a part of the power went to Liu Jin.
Traitors have always been more hateful than enemies, and traitors are more hateful than Japanese. This is the reason why people hate traitors more than Japanese. The betrayal of these people attracted a strong sense of morality. Colleagues who had always held their ground were extremely resentful, and so internal strife began.
This kind of internal strife, and without a strong leader to stop it, allowed Liu Jin to fish in troubled waters. He took the opportunity to suppress a group of people, defeat a group of people, and make a group of people cold-hearted. When Li Dongyang and Yang Tinghe saw that the situation was out of control, they finally made up their minds to step in. The main power of this position had already fallen into the hands of Liu Jin.
The two of them could only do their best to protect a group of people so that they would not be removed from their posts and would remain in their original positions. However, this group of people were all problematic and were now in hibernation. They could only hide and protect themselves. Without a strong leader to lead them, they no longer had much influence in the court.
At present, the situation in the capital was one-sided. Other than the neutral faction and the faction that Yang Ling had ordered when he left the capital to only feign civility and not to oppose Liu Jin, the senior faction had already lost the ability to directly oppose Liu Jin. Moreover, this made his power even stronger. At present, the capital was practically the law of Liu Jin.
There were already people among the people who called Liu Jin the 'Established Emperor' behind his back. In the court, Emperor Zhengde was the sitting Emperor, and he, who waited on the side, was the Established Emperor. His power and influence were overwhelming, and he was insufferably arrogant. Jiao Fang was deeply worried about this and couldn't wait to write a letter to Yang Ling, asking him to come up with a plan as soon as possible. Otherwise, by the time he returned to the capital, the world would have already fallen into the hands of Liu Jin.
Yang Ling read it carefully and flicked the letter. With a disdainful smile, he said, "Established Emperor? Since he's called an Emperor, why is he still standing? He can only stand if he's an Emperor. If he's told to lie down, he won't dare to stand! "
He splashed some water on the paper and watched the ink gradually turn into a ball. After thinking for a long time, he loosened his grip and threw away the wet paper. He said, "You still have to hurry back to Chengdu and take charge of the situation there. If there's nothing important, don't come to see me. Just ask someone else to send the message. Don't let anyone with ulterior motives know of your existence."
Yang Ling smiled again and said, "As for Minister Jiao, help me reply with a sentence: 'With the pearl of wisdom in hand, with a well-thought-out plan, Minister Jiao can rest on a high pillow and have no worries.' You can also let Liu Yu know this sentence. Otherwise, I'm afraid these two old brothers won't be able to sleep well. Who knows one day they'll have to run off to drink tea and chat with Liu Jin. "
Liu Biao laughed and cupped his hands. "Yes! This lowly officer obeys. "
In fact, although he didn't read the letter, he wasn't completely unaware of the situation in the capital. He had always been worried about Yang Ling, but right now, seeing Yang Ling's relaxed expression, he knew he must have a countermeasure. Only then did he put his mind at ease.
Yang Ling nodded. Raising his head, he closed his eyes and said, "Hmm. Go and rest, then hurry back. I want to rest a bit."
Liu Biao respectfully acknowledged and quietly retreated.
Yang Ling thought carefully for a long time. He carefully digested the information that Jiao Fang had sent about the situation of the various factions in the capital. He also felt that a crisis was imminent. Liu Jin's power was in danger of losing control. If this fire was played too big, it was very likely that he would be drawing fire to himself. How should he deal with it? With the pearl of wisdom in hand, with a well-thought-out plan? That was just words to stabilize the morale of the army. The real countermeasure was still brewing in his mind …
Yang Ling splashed water on his chest and thought hard for a long time. He thought about all the examples of seizing power from ancient and modern times in his mind. Combining them with the current situation, he finally came up with a plan. He thought it over a few times and felt that the feasibility of this plan was extremely high. Only then did he really have a well-thought-out plan.
The corners of his mouth slowly curled up into a mocking smile. He lightly said, "Fight and seize. If it wasn't like this, these old officials wouldn't have been completely pushed to my side by you and become my allies from now on. Haha, I'll let you be free and unfettered in the capital for now. As long as I return to the capital, I have a way to make the new power you've worked so hard to build collapse. Obediently return to your inner court and wait for me to launch my attack. "
"If I really die in Sichuan …" He faintly sighed. "Adeni, at that time, I'll have to rely on you. Give my secret letter to Yuner. She will definitely help me. At that time, I will be able to rest in peace in the underworld."
Before he left for the northwest, he wrote a letter and gave it to Adeni. Although the matter in the letter had to be planned and arranged by Cheng Qiyun, he knew Cheng Qiyun's personality. Cheng Qiyun was not Zhao Zilong and would not play games with her.
Even if she agreed to it in person, as soon as he left, she would immediately open the letter. People as cunning as foxes were naturally suspicious. She would not patiently wait a few months for a muddled mystery.
Cheng Qiyun was as gentle as water in front of him, charming and charming, gentle and considerate, and flattering. But Yang Ling knew that this was only for him. It was only because Cheng Qiyun had already treated him as a man she could rely on for the rest of her life and was dead set on following him. Cheng Qiyun truly loved him and saw him as more important than her own life. Now, he was the only one.
Cheng Qiyun's true personality had never changed. Suspicious, cold, cruel, and sinister, it had never changed. She would not work for the country and the people, nor would she cherish the people. Her current appearance was only an illusion because she had no place to use her skills and was tolerated by his love.
If once she realized that danger was imminent, she could sacrifice others without mercy in order to protect herself. She was intelligent and beautiful, but she had been bullied and humiliated since she was young. No one had ever extended a helping hand to her or expressed kindness to her. They only coveted her body. This kind of experience had long since trained her heart to be as hard as stone.
If she knew that he was heading to the northwest with the resolve to die, Yang Ling was certain that Cheng Qiyun, who would do anything for the sake of her love and her happiness, would not hesitate even if she had to sacrifice the entire world. Yang Ling was certain that she would not hesitate to use any means necessary to eliminate the possibility of this danger appearing.
Yang Ling did not know so many ways to harm people, but based on his understanding of Cheng Qiyun, he could at least guess the methods she would use and the goal she wanted to achieve. First, regardless of whether the tens of thousands of relatives and family members of the King of Shu had rebelled, she would simply create irrefutable evidence to prove that the King of Shu had rebelled. That way, the imperial court could directly send troops and he would not need to investigate.
Second, before he reached Sichuan, she would send her trusted aides and use all the vicious means to kill the King of Shu and the successors who were qualified to inherit the throne, directly eliminating any future troubles. The King of Shu had already withdrawn his border defense, so there was no point in investigating whether the King of Shu had rebelled. She would definitely do such a thing. She probably would not care how many innocent people would be sacrificed in the process.
That was why he gave Adeni his last words and repeatedly warned her that unless she encountered an accident, she must not give the letter to Cheng Qiyun, otherwise she would inevitably cause a great disaster.
Of course, in order to explain that his trip to Sichuan was not dangerous and that this was just a necessary arrangement and means commonly used by those in high positions in the Eastern Empire, he spent half a night and finally relied on a string of honeyed kisses to block Adeni's series of 'why's.
※ ※ ※
Although there was still a gentle smile on her beautiful face, her eyebrows, which were like distant mountains, were shrouded with a touch of autumn. She faced the prism mirror, her jade-like fingers pinched the forehead flower made of gold leaf and gently pressed it against her beautiful forehead.
"Patrolling the Heavens, Governor of the Inner Works, Pillar of the State General, Mighty Marquis? So what? Do you still need to curry favor with such a person? "She said lightly, with a trace of contempt and disdain for this long list of official titles.
"Haha, Yanran, who am I? I'm just the illegitimate son of the King of Shu. Even if my father is here, I can't be too disrespectful to this Mr Yang, even though he is a subject of my Zhu family. "
Zhu Xuanyi's handsome face was like a painting, and his demeanor was as elegant as a bamboo tree. He smiled gently at Tuoba Yanran.
"So what if he's the illegitimate son? Rangjin, in my eyes, you are the best man in the world. Zhu Rangxu is not even worthy to carry your shoes! "Tuoba Yanran suddenly turned around and raised her eyebrows.
The hair hanging down from her temples lightly brushed against her snow-white and fragrant cheeks. Her pair of beautiful eyes carried a touch of amazement that went straight into one's heart.
Zhu Xuanyi, the illegitimate son of the King of Shu, Zhu Rangjin, was both touched and a little embarrassed. He said in a slightly reproachful tone, "Yanran, Rangjin is inexplicably grateful that you think so highly of me. As the saying goes, it's enough to know one person in one's life. To have a confidante like you, Zhu Rangjin has no regrets in this life. But … you, don't always be so arrogant. Rangxu is my big brother, and he has always been someone I respect. If you talk about him like that, I … I feel very uncomfortable. "
Tuoba Yanran giggled and said sweetly, "You, aren't I right in front of you? Look at how I'm polite in front of others. How have I been impolite? When have I ever been so arrogant? Among your friends, I only look up to Yang Shen. I don't care about the others, but haven't I always been polite? "
Speaking of his friends, Zhu Rangjin smiled and said, "You're just too ambitious. Actually, Brother Lu and Brother Li are talented as well. It's just that one of them hates the world and is a little too arrogant. The other is a guest of honor, managing the family's finances. On the surface, he seems a little unscrupulous, but people can't live in a place where they don't know the world, right? "
He slowly walked in front of Tuoba Yanran, a doting smile in his eyes. He picked up the jade comb on the table and gently combed her hair. At the same time, he said gently, "Everyone has their flaws, but they also have their strengths. You're just a little too stubborn and pay too much attention to other people's flaws.
Other than Brother Lu's impetuous, arrogant, and condescending personality, there's nothing bad about him. Speaking of which, he was rebuffed by Mr Yang today. He's a little embarrassed, but it's not good for him to leave immediately. He told me that he'll return to Qingcheng tomorrow morning. I'll go talk to him after the banquet tonight. "
"Oh? You even dare to offend this madman, the Great Imperial Envoy that even your Royal Father has no choice but to respect? What happened? Tell me. "Tuoba Yanran meekly let him comb her hair as she asked excitedly.
"Women always keep their curiosity to themselves." Zhu Rangjin shook his head with a wry smile and recounted what had happened in the bamboo hut.
Tuoba Yanran giggled in schadenfreude. "That's right. That arrogant fellow whose eyes grow on the top of his head should be rebuffed. It's good to let him learn a lesson. With his lousy zither playing, I've wanted to say these words for a long time, hehehe … "
"Don't talk about others. Aren't you the same? It's just that your arrogance is hidden in your heart. You're so arrogant that you don't even want to show it to others. "
"Yes, only you know." Tuoba Yanran playfully rolled her eyes at him and nodded slightly. "Mm, from what you just said, this Mr Yang is indeed knowledgeable in court politics. Although he's not like you, proficient in the four arts of zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting, he's proficient in literature and martial arts, he's very knowledgeable and has great foresight in the political arena. No wonder he's received the appreciation of two generations of emperors at such a young age, becoming famous and holding great power."
Zhu Rangjin joyfully said, "Not only that, not only that. Many of his views coincide with mine. Some of his views may sound too bold and risky, but if you think about it carefully, it makes a lot of sense. I dare say that in the hundred years of Ming Destiny's life, there are countless capable officials. But if this person sits in the position of the Cabinet Chief, His Majesty can boldly let him do it. Thirty years later, his achievements will surpass all of the famous officials of the previous dynasty. "
Tuoba Yanran curiously smiled and said, "Is he really that powerful? Hehe, this is the first person that you, Young Master Xuan, hold in such high esteem. Even that all-rounder Yang Shen has not received such praise from you. If there's a chance, I'd like to meet him. "
"Hehe, that's easy. This Mr Yang, I feel like an old friend at first sight and really want to make friends with him. If you want to meet him, during the banquet tonight, let the magistrate lead you out to toast the imperial envoy and chat a bit with him. But don't test him on his poems and songs. I don't think Mr Yang is good at this. Otherwise, he won't be able to get off the stage. "
Tuoba Yanran pursed her lips and said with a smile, "Alright, alright. I won't test him on anything. You can rest assured now, right? Do you want me to cover my face as well? Otherwise, he'll be like the newly arrived Shandong Commander, looking at me as if he's possessed. The imperial envoy drooled and washed away the Bamboo Gazing Stream. "
Zhu Rangjin stretched out her finger and lightly scratched her lips. She said with an annoyed smile, "You, you only have a sharp tongue. What kind of beauties have you not seen among the high-ranking officials in the capital? Do you have to be so useless? I heard that the number one courtesan in Jiangnan, Dai Lou 'er, who is known to be the most beautiful in the world, is also his forbidden woman. The imperial envoy is a great person who has seen the world, my Miss Yanran. "
The temperature in the room dropped …
"Oh, so it turns out that Young Master Xuan admires that Dai Lou 'er? In your eyes, she should be the number one beauty in the world, right? What a pity. When she's at the peak of her beauty, you, a brat, are still at home with … that, playing with mud. Why don't … you make a deal with Imperial Envoy Yang? Let Sir Yang transfer her to you. Anyway, it's a romantic thing to exchange beautiful maids in the official circles. "
Oh no, I've knocked over the vinegar jar!
Zhu Rangjin immediately started sweating. Tuoba Yanran was good at everything except for one thing. She was extremely jealous. As long as he was not careful and made her jealous with his words, she would immediately turn from a mortal from the nine heavens to the owner of an old vinegar shop in Shanxi.
If he said something wrong today, he could foresee that he would not have a good life for the next half a year. As long as she was in a bad mood, she would definitely bring up what he said today and torment him until he hovered between life and death.
Zhu Rangjin hurriedly smiled apologetically and said, "Jinjiang is slippery and beautiful, turning into Wenjun and Xue Tao. Words can steal a parrot's tongue, writing can split phoenix feathers. Yanran has the beauty of Mount Ba and Shu. How can a mere Dai Lou 'er compare to you in terms of beauty and talent? "
Tuoba Yanran's brows relaxed as if she was looking at a faraway mountain. Her clear eyes slightly raised and with a hint of threat, she said slowly, "Oh? Then do you think I'm comparable to Xue Tao or Zhuo Wenjun? "
Zhu Rangjin wanted to slap himself. Of all people, why did he have to compare himself to them? He originally wanted to promote two famous talented and beautiful women from Bashu to please Yanran. However, he forgot that Xue Tao was a prostitute and Zhuo Wenjun was even worse. She was widowed and then married.
On the other hand, Tuoba Yanran was also betrothed to someone. However, her husband died of illness before they married. Speaking of which, her life experience was somewhat similar to Zhuo Wenjun's. Although there are many ethnic minorities in Sichuan and their customs are not as strict as the Central Plains, and Tuoba Yanran is the daughter of Chieftain Zhuoji, she does not care about these things. However, with their circumstances, this poem seems to be mocking her. Won't it make Yanran even angrier?
Tuoba Yanran stared at him for a long time. Seeing that he looked like he wanted to cry but no tears came out, she suddenly smiled and rolled her eyes at him. She said, "Wishing to have the person of my heart, to stay together till death, it is very touching. Even comparing myself to Zhuo Wenjun is not a problem. Just don't let me write the Song of the White Hair and the Farewell Letter to you one day. "
Zhu Rangjin felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders. He knew that this little vixen was willing to let him go. He hurriedly promised, "No, no. Rangjin will only play the song 'A Phoenix Seeking for a Phoenix' to Yanran for the rest of his life.
Her slender, jade-like fingers gently grasped his hand and caressed her beautiful face. His eyes were filled with a pair of tender, limpid eyes.
"Phoenix Xi Feng Xi Feng returns home. I wander the four seas in search of a phoenix. There is a beautiful woman in this hall. The people in the room are poisonous to my heart. Why should we be mandarin ducks …"
The sound of the zither and the song lingered in the bamboo forest.
Song Ai stood in the bamboo forest with her hands behind her back. After listening for a while, she praised happily, "What a good song 'Phoenix Seeking for Phoenix'. It is really soul-stirring. Hey, idiot, why are you chewing bamboo leaves while leaning against the bamboo? You are not a panda! Do you not know how to sing this song? I know how to play it and sing it. Do you want me to teach you? "
Wu Hanchao exclaimed in surprise. He looked left and right before his eyes regained their clarity. He spat out the bamboo leaves in his mouth and said, "What did you say? Teach me what? I was thinking, how did that turtle fall from the sky? Why did it specifically hit the bald head? Aiyo, why did you hit my head? "
"Turtles fall from the sky like this!" Song Ai said hatefully. She turned and walked away angrily.
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