Chapter 33: The Emperor and His Ministers Have Met with the Time (33)

Shen Duo did not sleep all night. He was under house arrest in the mansion and could do nothing except send a letter.

There was no source of information, and he didn't even know the progress of the matter.

The unknown was more tormenting than bad news. He paced in the room all night, and his anxiety reached its peak when he caught a glimpse of the fire in the distance and heard the uniform footsteps.

I don't know who he is more worried about, the royal family or the traitors.

The snow began to melt yesterday, and it was extremely cold.

When he heard the servant report that Shen Changqing wanted to see him, Shen Duo strode out without even putting on a coat.

The servant held the cloak and trotted after him.

"Father!" Shen Changqing had thin red bloodshot in his eyes, and his eyes were also dark blue, and panic was written on his face.

Shen Changqing retracted his gaze from the sky. He looked at the haggard Shen Duo and sighed lightly.

"Si Ming, you are not young anymore, why are you still so reckless?" Shen Changqing's tone was very calm, and it was not a blame mixed with anger.

"Father?" Shen Duo was stunned for a moment. After he came back, except for the first time when the old man expressed his longing with heartache, it was the first time that he spoke to him so kindly.

Shen Changqing said "um", and he said: "Si Ming, from now on, you are the new head of the Shen family."

"Father?!" Shen Duo exclaimed in disbelief.

Shen Changqing said with a smile: "What's wrong with you today? You can only say these two words?"

There was a bottomless sadness in Shen Changqing's eyes, but he was indeed smiling when he spoke.

Shen Duo clenched his fists, "What about Ming Huan? Father, have you given up on him?"

Shen Duo thought that the dust had settled outside, Shen Ming Huan was detained on the charge of treason, and Shen Changqing severed his relationship with Shen Ming Huan in order to save the Shen family.

"I don't agree." Shen Duo's face turned pale. "I'm going to see King Ling. I'm reporting the news for him, which is a meritorious service! I ask him to spare Ming Huan's life, Ming Huan will be fine."

He put the country before Shen Ming Huan, and Shen Ming Huan before himself.

Now that the world is at peace, he can't help but start to worry about Shen Ming Huan. Even if this person rebels, commits treason, and creates a huge disaster, he is still his beloved child.

No matter what, he must save Shen Ming Huan's life.

Shen Changqing was slightly stunned.

King Ling, the prince... Your Majesty.

No wonder.

No wonder Shen Ming Huan refused to reveal a word to Shen Duo, no wonder Shen Ming Huan intended to make him misunderstand, no wonder Shen Ming Huan indulged him to surrender to the prince.

So there is this reason.

This man wants to sink himself into the quagmire and be stained with a bad name, but he holds the Shen family high with both hands so that he will not be splashed by the mud on his body.

Shen Minghuan will die in the midst of scolding, and the Shen family will "kill relatives for the greater good" and their good name will live forever.

"Where are you going?" Shen Changqing came to his senses and saw Shen Duo walking out, "Si Ming, stop."

He sighed, tired, sad, and full of relief, "This is what Minghuan meant."

God has been so kind to him, giving him such an excellent son and grandson.

But God is so cruel to him.

"What?" Shen Duo took back his steps and suddenly realized that this matter might be completely different from what he imagined. He took a deep breath, "Father, are you hiding something from me?"

Shen Changqing was silent, "His Royal Highness Ling Wang is already the emperor."

After he finished this sentence, he didn't say anything else.

"What about Minghuan?" Shen Duo couldn't help asking.

"Minghuan... is the regent."

Shen Duo took two steps back as if he couldn't stand steadily. He tried to think about the meaning behind it, but he hadn't rested for too long and felt a splitting headache.

Shen Duo bit his tongue hard until blood spread in his mouth, then he asked calmly: "What else? Father, is there anything else you haven't told me?"

The sadness in Shen Changqing's eyes gradually became stronger, and he shook his head, "No more... Minghuan only told me these... He has always been... likes to pretend."

Although the rest of the content is his own speculation, it must be almost right.

Obviously, what Shen Changqing could "guess", Shen Duo also thought of.

Shen Duo felt that there were a thousand needles stirring in his brain. He rubbed his eyebrows hard and let out a whimpering cry.

How could someone who could voluntarily give up the position of the head of the Shen family and the position of the emperor that was within his reach be the ambitious person he thought at the beginning?

And Shen Minghuan's move to take the initiative to resign as the head of the Shen family, thinking carefully, can't help but feel that it has the meaning of entrusting an orphan.

"Father." Shen Duo tried to hold back his headache, "Where is Ming Huan now?"

"The palace."

"Can we see him?"

Shen Changqing turned around and sighed, "No. He doesn't want to see us."

"Si Ming, Ming Huan doesn't want you to know, and I didn't intend to tell you."

Let him follow Shen Ming Huan's plan without knowing anything, and become the retreat this person prepared for the Shen family. Without knowing the truth, perhaps there will be less trouble.

However, this was too unfair to Shen Minghuan and Shen Siming.

Shen Changqing thought that if he had not noticed it at the beginning, if he had not repeatedly asked, Shen Minghuan would probably have kept it a secret from him.

Fortunately, he found out.

Shen Duo closed his eyes tightly, and when he opened them, he was still dizzy and blurry. His throat seemed to be on fire, and his breath was burning.

"Siming?"

Shen Duo finally couldn't hold on, his body swayed and fell to the ground, and soon lost consciousness.

*

In the huge private room of Yingzuilou, Qu Zhengcheng's face was solemn, "Everyone, have you heard about it?"

Those who can survive in the court of Daqi to this day are not simple characters. Even a low-key and depressed person like Chen Xin has his own way to save his life.

A group of people with eight minds gathered together, and Qu Zhengcheng didn't need to say many things too clearly.

For example, now, as soon as Qu Zhengcheng started talking, everyone knew that he was referring to Shen Minghuan's behavior outside Xue's mansion. Qu Zhengcheng's question automatically turned into: What do you think Shen Minghuan's purpose is?

Everyone looked at each other.

Someone tentatively said, "Is it possible that he wants to bribe us by pretending to be so righteous?" His voice became smaller and smaller, and it was obvious that he did not have the confidence.

Other traitors might use this method to show goodwill to loyal officials in order to buy people's hearts and gain trust.

But if this reason is put on Shen Minghuan...

Everyone seemed to see Shen Minghuan's disdainful look at them, which should mean: self-conceited, idiot.

This person will definitely say that!

Lin Zhihang frowned and thought hard, "This matter, thinking this way, is the biggest benefit to the court and His Majesty."

Now breaking with the aristocratic family, there is only one benefit among a hundred harms.

Shen Minghuan called this matter a decision made by the court for the people in public, which is equivalent to giving the only benefit - the people's hearts - to Luo Xiuyuan.

He also deliberately mentioned the good deeds of Luo Xiuyuan when he was the crown prince, which seemed to be a way to build momentum for the new emperor.

Wang Jin snorted coldly, "How can Shen Minghuan be so kind? We can't just look at the surface of things. He must have other intentions."

Lin Zhihang frowned, "But in the long run, the beneficiary is still our dynasty."

He murmured to himself: "Is my old eyes blurry? Or am I really a fool?"

Lu Zhi didn't know whether to laugh or cry, "Brother Lin is talking nonsense again."

Countless speculations flashed through Lu Suiping's mind, but these speculations were untenable and were ruled out one by one by him.

Lu Suiping frowned and looked at Qu Zhengcheng: "Brother Qu, do you have any ideas?"

"No." Qu Zhengcheng answered frankly, he smiled bitterly: "I don't know what Shen Minghuan's purpose is. No matter how I think about it, he can't get any benefit from this matter."

No, there is a reason, to regain the lost people's hearts for the new emperor and the Qi Dynasty.

——This can't be Shen Minghuan's reason.

Lin Zhihang tugged at his long beard in annoyance, "Just ask him directly."

"Don't talk nonsense." Lu Zhi glared at him, obviously knowing that this would really be something Lin Zhihang could do.

The door of the private room was knocked.

Chen Xiaoyu's emotionless voice came in: "My lords, the regent invites you."

With such a tone, it seemed that he didn't say "invite" but "let's go."

"What does Shen Minghuan want to do again?" Lu Suiping was half alert and half annoyed.

Lu Zhi looked at Qu Zhengcheng.

Although he didn't say it clearly, whether in terms of intelligence, decision-making, or even status, Qu Zhengcheng is their well-deserved leader.

There are many such looks, and Qu Zhengcheng didn't have the confidence in his heart, but he said calmly: "Let's go and take a look."

*

The meeting place was in the imperial study, which should have been an honor that belonged exclusively to the emperor.

Shen Minghuan didn't mean to anger those old ministers on purpose, he was not that naive. I just think that the Imperial Study is the most suitable place to discuss state affairs. After all, all the furnishings are designed for "small court meetings".

The reason is reasonable, but the system is skeptical about it.

There are many documents scattered in front of Shen Minghuan's desk, and the papers are densely spread all over the desk, and even a few of them have fallen to the ground.

Several adults are orthodox scholars. Seeing this messy scene, they sighed in their hearts. They have always been rigorous and serious about writing, ink, paper and inkstone. Compared with their meticulousness, Shen Minghuan is a bit unorthodox and casual.

Even the best of the younger generation is like this, which inevitably makes people worry about the future of Qi Dynasty's academics.

Shen Minghuan didn't know that a casual scene made this group of people worried again. He looked at all the ministers present thoughtfully.

"This one, Nie Xingyu? Minister of Personnel?" He stretched out his hand and pointed at one of them.

Nie Xingyu replied in a deep voice: "That's right"

He made up his mind that no matter whether Shen Minghuan wanted to force him to do something or bribe him with benefits, he would rather die than surrender!

The responsibility of bearing humiliation and supporting the Qi Dynasty was given to Qu Zhengcheng and others, and he, Nie Xingyu, would go first!

"You go first." Shen Minghuan said.

Nie Xingyu's hands trembled. He didn't expect that Shen Minghuan would ask him to go without even saying the conditions.

Nie Xingyu said in a trembling voice: "I am not alone in my path. Without Nie Xingyu, there are still thousands of people with lofty ideals in the Qi Dynasty. Shen Minghuan, your conspiracy will not succeed."

"Brother Xingyu!"

This is a minister with the same brain circuit as Nie Xingyu.

Holding hands and looking at each other with tears in their eyes, they were speechless.

Thinking of going away, thousands of miles of smoke and waves, dusk is heavy and the sky of Chu is vast.

Shen Minghuan was very curious: "Is your relationship so good? Can't you accept being apart for a long time?"

The ministers who reacted: "..."

"You have to accept it even if you can't accept it." Shen Minghuan was ruthless: "Minister Nie, you are not on this king's invitation list. Chen Xiaoyu, see you off."