Chapter 8: The Emperor and His Ministers Have Already Met with the Right Time (8)

Luo Xiuyuan paused slightly, and the tip of the pen was soaked with ink.

"You said that Minghuan would go to the front line with Xiuqi?"

"My Highness." Chang Mao looked helpless, "You should pay attention to the main point. His Majesty has given the head of the Shen family a BMW, a thousand taels of gold, and ten boxes of jewels. He is now in high spirits and you don't need to worry about him."

Of course, it was the grace that Luo Xiuqi asked for on behalf of Shen Minghuan. If Shen Minghuan had not refused, he could have been appointed as an official.

Luo Xiuyuan hummed and frowned, "But Minghuan doesn't know martial arts, and I have never heard that he has learned military tactics. The border is indeed too dangerous."

I can see that you didn't hear a word.

Chang Mao stood up for him: "Your Highness, Shen Minghuan's move is obviously aimed at military power. Maybe his plan also involves General Zhuo Feichen. It's fine if you don't guard against it, but why do you..."

"Shen Minghuan is not that kind of person." Luo Xiuyuan blurted out without hesitation. Even if they have different positions and even if they are fighting, he still believes in the other party's adherence to justice.

——That is the bottom line that cannot be changed even if he is in a desperate situation.

Luo Xiuyuan sighed, looked at Chang Mao's face full of regret, and explained in a compromising manner: "Fair competition."

In fact, he did not have such a strong desire for power, but there were too many eyes pushing him forward, and those expectations were too heavy, so he had to fight and could not fail to win.

"Is Magistrate Wu willing to cooperate?"

Chang Mao shook his head: "Still the same, talking about other things and refusing to tell the truth."

Luo Xiuyuan pondered for a moment, "Send someone to contact Mr. Liu who is beside him."

He burned the account book, and for the sake of Shen Minghuan, he would no longer embarrass the mastermind behind the scenes, but General Zhuo's reputation could not be ignored.

Pingyao is a must-pass place for the transportation of military rations. Wu Xian is the county magistrate of Pingyao. If he cooperates, Luo Xiuyuan's investigation can be much easier.

But since Wu Xian is unwilling, Luo Xiuyuan can only act in a roundabout way. After all, he can't do things like torture.

"Let our people in the palace be careful recently, put their own safety first, and don't force the news out."

Recently, the emperor suddenly began to rectify the palace and the court, and several ministers were dismissed. Among them, there were his people, and most of them were just slightly inclined to him.

Tyrants don't need evidence, just suspicion is enough to convict.

The king who said what he meant did not need to hide it. He mercilessly cut off Luo Xiuyuan's wings in front of the whole court. It was a warning and a sentence.

Luo Xiuyuan's expression was complicated.

*

Luo Xiuqi had replaced System Xiaojiu and became Shen Minghuan's new source of happiness.

After a "cordial and friendly" conversation with Luo Xiuqi, he returned home contentedly.

Just as he was about to find Shen Changqing, he just opened the door of the courtyard and suddenly felt a fierce attack coming.

The killing intention was very faint, but it was indeed there.

Shen Minghuan snorted coldly, used the fan bone as a sword, and rushed forward without avoiding or retreating.

Even if this world has no spiritual energy and can't use magic, he still has an all-encompassing martial arts encyclopedia in his mind.

As if in the blink of an eye, Shen Minghuan had exchanged three rounds with this unknown assassin.

This body has never practiced martial arts, and even rarely exercises, so the quality can't keep up. Otherwise, Shen Minghuan was sure that he could control the opponent with just one move.

The murderous intent of the man became even fainter as his fists and feet met, until it disappeared completely.

"I didn't expect that the gentle gentleman Shen Minghuan actually had such mysterious martial arts. You kept it a secret."

"Who did I think it was? It turned out to be Prime Minister Qu." Shen Minghuan threw away his folding fan very casually, "Didn't the court give you a monthly salary? You don't want to be a good prime minister, but you break into people's houses and do such sneaky things..."

"Minghuan, don't be rude!"

All this happened too quickly, and Shen Changqing in the room only reacted now and hurriedly stopped it. While he stopped Shen Minghuan, he glared at Qu Zhengcheng.

He told this good friend that he was allowed to test Shen Minghuan a little, but he didn't allow him to test it in this way!

If Shen Minghuan wasn't good at martial arts, wouldn't he be injured?

Although his impression was that his grandson had never learned martial arts, he shouldn't have such good skills.

Qu Zhengcheng surrendered, "Just a joke, I was wrong."

Shen Changqing glared at him again, and then gently introduced to Shen Minghuan: "Minghuan, this is Qu Zhengcheng. Although I don't want to admit it, he seems to be my good friend."

The system smacked its lips: [Host, you have corrupted your grandfather. ]

Shen Changqing, the elegant old man, has begun to use words to hurt people.

[Host, what happened to you in the future...? ] The system was shocked, and Shen Minghuan's face was extremely ugly, and it could even be described as green.

Shen Minghuan muttered in a trance: "Then I am a generation shorter than Luo Xiuyuan? Do I have to call him..." Uncle?

Shen Minghuan's face suddenly turned greener.

Shen Changqing was a little worried at first, but he was relieved when he heard this, and couldn't help laughing, "Let's talk about our own things."

Qu Zhengcheng kindly said, "I don't dare to call you a good friend. Mr. Shen and I have a half-teacher relationship, so you and Xiuyuan are still from the same generation."

Shen Minghuan felt that what they said made sense, so his face instantly returned to normal.

"Did Minister Qu get the result he wanted? Do you need to fight a few more moves? Just remember to go to a place where there are no people next time, so that people won't see you and misunderstand that you are bullying the weak."

Qu Zhengcheng laughed dumbly, "You still hold a grudge. Well, it's my fault. I apologize to you. I hope that Master Shen will be magnanimous and forgive me."

He initially thought that Shen Minghuan was a mean person who betrayed his disciples. Now that the misunderstanding has been resolved, he looks at Shen Minghuan as if he were an outstanding junior, with doting tolerance.

Shen Changqing rolled his eyes at him and said unhappily, "Do you believe it now?"

"After I saw him, I believed it." Qu Zhengcheng smiled and said, "I have something else to do, so I won't bother you anymore. Well, Master Shen, I'll apologize to you next time."

He nodded and walked into the room without waiting for a return greeting. When he came out, he had put on a large coat that covered his face tightly.

Then he waved his hand gently to say goodbye, jumped over the white wall, and disappeared.

Shen Minghuan looked at him strangely as he left.

"I didn't expect Qu Zhengcheng to be this kind of person?" Shen Changqing smiled and said, "He usually acts."

"It's very strange." Shen Minghuan looked serious, "Why would he wear a nightgown in broad daylight?"

Shen Changqing: "..."

*

Everyone knows that Qu Zhengcheng won the imperial examination and was called the Wenquxing incarnate. Almost no one knows that he also has superb martial arts.

He is a model of self-preservation in the court, keeping a distance from everyone, neither warm nor rejecting, always neutral.

No one knows that he has such a good relationship with the deposed prince, treating him as his own son.

Almost no one knows that Shen Changqing, who has been indifferent to worldly affairs since being demoted, actually has such a deep friendship with Qu Zhengcheng.

——Even the original owner knew nothing about this.

"Grandpa said to keep it a secret." Shen Minghuan complained aggrievedly.

Shen Changqing felt a little guilty, but still did not give in at all, "Qu Zhengcheng knows the importance, not to mention... I need to ensure your safety."

Shen Minghuan was slightly stunned.

"Minghuan, don't underestimate the world. If Qu Zhengcheng determines that you are a threat to the prince, even if you are my grandson, he will not show mercy."

This court is very interesting. Some people appear to be submissive to the emperor and colleagues, but secretly they can fly over the eaves and walls in black clothes.

Shen Changqing looked at him carefully, but his tone was relaxed, as if he was joking, "However, this kind of skill is not something my grandson can have."

Such a sharp and unruly character is not something "Shen Minghuan" can have.

"Only grandpa can hide things from me and not let me have secrets?" Shen Minghuan knew best how to deal with Shen Changqing. As long as the expression is well-behaved and the eyes are pitiful, the old man will immediately soften his heart.

"People always change, and I have always been like this." Shen Minghuan's eyes did not flicker at all, and he smiled lightly and said: "There were too many things to do in the past. Now I just need the east wind, so I can naturally put down many concerns... But I am still Shen Minghuan, forever."

Shen Changqing opened his mouth and suddenly felt a little bitter.

He patted Shen Minghuan's shoulder: "Child, it is the Shen family that drags you down."

If he had not been born in the Shen family, if he had not carried such a heavy family burden, Shen Minghuan should have lived a much easier and happier life than now.

A few good friends, reciting poems and composing essays, enjoying the scenery in spring, and watching the snow in winter

Drink after the moon rises, play the piano after the sunset.

I don’t know the taste of sorrow.

Shen Minghuan: “…?”

He often can’t keep up with his grandfather’s train of thought.

“I feel more at ease if you have this ability. Swords have no eyes. Be careful when you go to the border.”

Shen Minghuan’s expression froze for a moment, and he nodded stiffly.

Oops, I didn’t tell my grandfather about this in advance!

The system asked worriedly: [Host, what should I do? Grandpa won’t blame you, right? ]

[…Xiaojiu, you seem very happy? ] Shen Minghuan threatened.

The system didn’t dare to speak.

——Otherwise it was afraid that it would really laugh out loud.

The system was still worried that Shen Minghuan would be exposed or his personality would collapse, but now it felt that it was worth it to see this scene, even if the mission failed.

Shen Minghuan, you have this day too!

*

There is a Yingzui Tower in Yanling City. The fine wine and delicacies in the tower are famous all over the world. If you don’t get drunk in Yingzui Tower, you can’t say you have seen the world.

Yingzuilou attracts merchants from all over the world and is also the first choice for the rich and powerful in Yanling City to hold banquets.

It is said that the owner here is a man of the world and is not interested in the disputes in the court, so some private conversations of the rich and powerful will also be held here.

After all, there are many people in my family, and who knows if the maid watering the flowers next to me is a spy arranged by someone.

Yingzuilou has many small rooms with excellent soundproofing. In addition, it receives hundreds of people every day. When you get off the carriage and join the crowd, you feel very safe, just like raindrops falling into the sea.

There is an unknown secret room under Yingzuilou, which belongs exclusively to the owner of Yingzuilou.

He is not some wanderer who does not get involved in the court, but Luo Xiuyuan, the former prince who is deeply trapped in the center of the power vortex.

"Disciple, your place is too desolate. Why don't you grow some flowers and grass? It will be comfortable to look at." Qu Zhengcheng knocked on the cold and neat stone wall with disdain.

Luo Xiuyuan, who was in deep thought, came back to his senses and said helplessly: "Sir, it's just a secret room. Do you still want me to live here?"

This is also the first time for Luo Xiuyuan to come here.

Wherever you go, you will leave traces. Luo Xiuyuan regards Yingzuilou as one of his trump cards. In order to avoid being exposed, he has never been here before.

He made great efforts to make the emperor think that this is Luo Xiuqi's power, and let Luo Xiuqi believe that this is the emperor's industry.

This method is not actually safe. It is easy to find out if two people are in pairs.

But Luo Xiuyuan knew they would not tell.

"You may not be able to live here if you want to. The tree wants to be quiet, but the wind does not stop." A voice came from the corridor of the secret room, with suppressed anger.

Luo Xiuyuan stood up: "Uncle!"

Qu Zhengcheng also nodded: "General Gu."

"Uncle, I finally see you." Luo Xiuyuan was a little flustered: "Why did you return to Beijing? You left your post without permission. If your father knew... just in case, you should return to the barracks now."

God knows how much cold sweat he broke out when he received the letter. Because of this incident, he used the secret room of Yingzuilou for the first time.

Gu Chenglin was full of the sharpness of the battlefield. He stood there like a sharp blade out of its sheath. "You can go. I came back this time to take you away with me."

"Me?" Luo Xiuyuan pursed his lips. Standing opposite Gu Chenglin, he looked even more gentle and bookish.

"I'll be fine. After all, we are still father and son." He said softly, but even he felt that his words were pale and powerless.

Gu Chenglin's anger turned into heartache. "Yuan'er, follow me. As long as your uncle is here, no one can hurt you."

"Hey, I'll tell you." Qu Zhengcheng leaned against the wall and watched the uncle and nephew talk to each other. He couldn't help but declare his presence: "Not to that extent. If you take him away now, it means you are holding the prince hostage. Do you really want to fight to the death?"

"Is there a difference? Can't you see that he has begun to eliminate political enemies for Luo Xiuqi?" Gu Chenglin said coldly.

The death of the prince will shake the whole of Daqi, but the death of a prince who is not favored by the emperor is a trivial matter.

How could he feel at ease letting Luo Xiuyuan stay in Yanling?