[R18] Will drink wine – “About Wine” Chapter 90 [English]

Chapter 88 Imperial Master

The breeze is blowing, and the cool night is chilly.

Xiao Chiye’s murderous intention just now was dissipated by the sound of “Erlang”. He was silent for a while, calming down in the coolness.

Shen Zechuan looked back at Ge Qingqing, with no trace of panic on his face, and said, “If you want to move so much silver, you can’t do it in a short time. No matter how clean he is, he can’t hide the truth. Tonight, we will gather people to leave the city, go to Qinzhou first, and inquire carefully along the way. Record all the large-scale goods transactions from the west to the northeast in the past two years, and let someone report it to me.”

Ge Qingqing had been worried after receiving the news, but seeing Shen Zechuan talking and laughing freely, he couldn’t help but feel a little relieved and stabilized his mood.

“Morning Yang,” Xiao Chiye signaled with his robe hanging on his shoulders, “First take them to the same hall in the capital city, hang a sign of a medium-sized horse, and issue an official document to capture the Jiangyang thief. He said that the thief was fleeing to the west, and it was inconvenient for the Imperial Army to go out to pursue him, so he entrusted it to the Jin Yiwei. Tomorrow morning I will personally go to the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Punishment to make a report.”

The city gates are closed, and you cannot leave the capital at will. The Jinyiwei is also involved in the important task of investigation and arrest. Normally, when you leave the capital, you must first report to the Ministry of Punishment and the Metropolitan Procuratorate, and then wait for approval.Xiao Chiye gave Ge Qingqing a reason to take people out of the capital, and exempted him from further questioning by the Ministry of Punishment.

Ge Qingqing left immediately after receiving the order. Chenyang put on his clothes and led the way. The two of them left the house first.

Shen Zechuan was wearing thin clothes. Xiao Chiye brought him back and saw that he was still deep in thought when he was brought in. He said, “Mr.’s matter is inseparable from Xue Xiuzhuo, but since he is willing to move the person away, it means that he is still useful to him, and he will not kill him rashly. There are too many things hidden in the Xue Mansion. I have to think of a reason to ask for a special arrest warrant from the emperor.”

“If you want to dispatch the imperial army, it must be a major case with solid evidence. Today’s test still relies on the Jin Yiwei.” Shen Zechuan did not sit back. Seeing that it was getting late, he knew that it would be difficult to rest tonight, so he poured a cup of strong tea, but only took a sip, and gave the rest to Xiao Chiye.

Xiao Chiye finished the drink and said: “Xue Xiuzhuo is cautious in everything. He will not accept Bingjing, who is usually filial when foreign officials return to the capital. He is serving during the period of affairs. He is the cleanest in the eyes of the procuratorate of the Metropolitan Procuratorate and is rarely impeached. Therefore, even the Jin Yiwei may not be able to find a reason to investigate him.”

“If you investigate in a big way, you will alert the snake.” Shen Zechuan played with the teacup, thinking in the bitter taste, “he is in the light, we are in the dark, as long as Xue Xiuyi’s move is hidden, we will still be the attacking party. It is easy to talk about things outside the palace, but we must pay more attention to matters inside the palace. heNow that he has murderous intentions for the emperor, and with the help of his sister and brother Mu Rufengquan, they know the emperor’s every move so well that people have to guard against it.”

Xiao Chiye thought for a while and said: “Didn’t Feng Quan just become the eunuch in charge of the ceremony? With his qualifications, he will definitely be criticized by both the internal and external court. Fu Manding is eager to work under him, and Hai Liangyi hates eunuchs. The power that Feng Quan holds now cannot compare to the power of Pan Rugui’s time. If he is trapped both internally and externally, and has too much time to take care of himself, he will have no spare time to do things for Xue Xiuzhuo.”

“It is also key to stabilize the emperor,” Shen Zechuan said. “There should be no rumors about the emperor’s heir.”

Since Li Jianheng came to the throne, he has been severely criticized by officials and has been in trouble one after another.He has no beautiful political achievements, and his reputation among the people is not as good as that of the late emperor. If the news about the emperor’s heir leaks out, it will definitely upset people’s hearts. In every aspect, it will not be conducive to maintaining stability.

“No matter whether Xue Xiuzhuo holds a real dragon or a fake one,” Xiao Chiye held his fingers against the bone ring and stared at the glazed lamp, “the emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty can only be Li Jianheng. Even if a crown prince is to be established in the future, it must be Li Jianheng’s son.”

The Xiao family is now slightly better than the Hua family and has maintained its momentum.Xiao Chiye moved steadily, and Xiao Jiming in Libei also held firm. He and the family secretly played games in Zhongbo and Qidong. The fight was not fierce because of the intermediary of the direct minister Hai Liangyi and his faction, which barely stabilized the trend of internal fighting between the two tigers.However, Hai Liangyi’s biggest barrier was Li Jianheng. Li Jianheng believed in him, respected him, and knew that he was determined, so he did not immediately turn to the Queen Mother during the tug-of-war. Moreover, Li Jianheng was willing to discuss with Hai Liangyi all matters big and small in the court. This was the fundamental reason why Hai Liangyi sat firmly in the cabinet after entering the new dynasty.

Li Jianheng is not important, but after he ascended the throne, “Li Jianheng” became crucial.He is at the center of the open and hidden arrows. He is the cage used by the three parties to jointly restrain each other. He is also the dagger used by the three parties to jointly attack each other.

Xue Xiuzhuo has emerged. While Shen Zechuan is looking for a breakthrough point, he can’t help but wonder if there is anyone behind Xue Xiuzhuo.

* * *

A few days later, it rained lightly, and Xue Xiuzhuo stopped taking a bath.

Wearing a sky-green silk robe, he visited Qi Huilian in the small building.Qi Huilian munched on the food without even looking at him.

Xue Xiuzhuo did not come to the table, but only performed the disciple’s ceremony.When he saw Ji Gang sitting in front of the window grinding stones, he said to his left and right: “Mr. Ji’s injury has not healed yet, and he cannot eat spicy food. Let’s ask the Duanzhou chef to prepare a new table of dishes.”

“No need to bother,” Ji Gang blew the ash and said in a deep voice, “I won’t eat it.”

Xue Xiuzhuo didn’t speak, and the waiter had already stepped back to give instructions to the cook.Mr. Xue is from Jincheng and is not used to the Zhongbo flavor. This Duanzhou cook was specially hired by him for Ji Gang.

It is raining lightly outside the building, and there are beautiful apricots in April. The pink and white flowers in the courtyard have been beaten into mud by the rain.Qi Huilian had eaten and drank enough, wiped his mouth, stood up and looked at the desolation in the courtyard, and said: “Don’t waste your time, he Ji Gang is very strong, if he doesn’t eat, he won’t eat. Just ask someone to prepare some steamed buns and pickles for him to satisfy his hunger.”

Xue Xiuzhuo smiled: “The two seniors are visiting my home, I can’t treat them lightly.”

“Then open the door.” Ji Gang carved a nose and eyes on the stone, “We can go back by ourselves.”

Xue Xiuzhuo’s expression remained unchanged and he said: “The spring has been cold recently. I see that Shen Tong knows that he has no place to settle down yet, so how can he settle down with the two seniors?”

“Don’t make excuses in front of us. Imprisonment means imprisonment.” Qi Hui walked a few steps, and the iron chain on his ankle made a sound. He said, “I have been imprisoned here and there in my life, and it is almost over. I am old, he is disabled, what do you want to do with us two old, weak, sick and disabled people in your hands?”

Xue Xiuzhuo personally leaned over and picked up the hex for Qi HuilianHe put the chopsticks on the ground, wiped them with a handkerchief, and said: “Sir, he used to be a prominent figure in the Spring and Autumn Period. He originally enjoyed the honor of being enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple after his death. Unfortunately, he followed the wrong person and pretended to be crazy in Zhaosu Temple for twenty years. Now, I want to ask you to be the emperor’s master again.Firstly, it can make up for the regret of not seeing the crown prince’s enthronement ceremony, and secondly, it can clear my grievances and let my husband redress and return to the public in an upright manner.Are these two reasons not enough?”

“Be the emperor’s master again,” Qi Huilian took a step back while dragging the chain, laughing in his throat, “You want me to be the emperor’s master again? You are so loud! Now that the world is at peace, the current emperor is justified, and there is Hai Ren to look after and assist, what do you want me, Qi Huilian, to do? I’m crazy and stupid, I can’t be of any use at all!”

Xue Xiuzhuo put down his chopsticks and said, “Sir, you were slandered, so you ended up like this. The Queen Mother controlled the government during the Yongyi period, which caused the Zhou Dynasty to be reversed and corrupt officials were rampant. This was even more true during the Xiande period. Hua and Pan worked together to create trouble in the capital, in the eight cities, and in the entire Zhou Dynasty.After making trouble, the people everywhere were miserable.Then Zhongbo was defeated, and the six states were filled with mourning and starvation.Now that Mr. Wang has come out, he has lost the heroic spirit that he used to criticize Fang Qiu, and he no longer even wants to compete with Hai Liangyi?”

Qi Huilian turned around, held the window, and watched the rain beating on the apricot blossoms. He was silent for a moment and said, “Twenty-five years ago, I wanted to compete with Hai Liangyi. We went to the scientific examination together, heI was so inconspicuous, but I won three yuan in a row.I was a proud young man, and I didn’t understand the roundabout ways of officialdom. I was framed by others, and was demoted from the capital. I felt that I couldn’t see the elders in Yuzhou, so I was depressed for several years.Later, Hai Liangyi promoted me, but the prince did not worship him., but welcomed me back to Qidu from Yuzhou, and from then on I became the Tutor of the Eastern Palace and concurrently the Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs.Hai Liangyi was defeated by Qi Huilian all his life, but he was a gentleman. When the prince committed suicide, everyone shouted, but he still had the heart to redeem himself. For this reason, I am not as good as him.!There is no difference between us, only mutual respect.It’s a pity that even though we are on the same path, we still can’t work together.I have been trapped for twenty-five years. You are right. I no longer have the heart to compete with him.”

Xue Xiuzhuo also fell silent, and the only sound in the room was the sound of rain and the scratching sound of Ji Gang’s carving.The rain was heavy, and the apricot flowers fell more chaotically, leaving a piece of residual powder in the mud and water.

“I have only taught two people in my life, and I have devoted all my life’s learning to them. I am conceited about my talents and refuse to compromise. It is this arrogance of relying on my talents that hurts the first student.” Qi Huilian looked at the dirty water, as if he was looking at his own miserable life.He said: “I, Qi Huilian, am not a god after all. Two students are enough. I cannot afford to teach others.”

Ji Gang coughed violently, covered his mouth with a handkerchief, and complained: “Close the window!”

Qi Huilian shut those scenes outside, looked back at Xue Xiuzhuo, and said, “I’ve said that, don’t bother with it! Let’s go, don’t stay here to be an eyesore.”

Xue Xiuzhuo doesn’t move, he doesn’t look like Xue Xiuyi, he doesn’t even look like a child of aristocratic family.He is not as arrogant as Pan Lin and Fei Shi. His status as a concubine has made him suffer a lot in the past decades, and he has been polished into such an elegant person without showing off his edge.

“I admire your talent and learning, and even more your knowledge of the world. I looked at the small building three times and asked you to come out because I understand your ambition. Sir, Hai Liangyi is indeed a gentleman with a high cliff, but a gentleman can never live with a villain forever. Today’s emperor is not taught by poetry and books, and does not have the benevolence of a virtuous gentleman. He is just a straw under the collapse of the Great Zhou Dynasty, heHe cannot become a sage king at all.How much energy does Hai Liangyi have left?It is a mistake to put the safety of the country on one person.”

Qi Huilian said: “Assisting the monarch is the bounden duty of a minister. Hai Liangyi tried his best to reverse the decline and reconcile all parties. He is a loyal minister. Do you still want him to be a rebellious minister and traitor who replaces Li and changes the dynasty?”

“The struggle between aristocratic families and poor families has lasted for hundreds of years. If you want to eliminate the long-standing disadvantages, you must have the determination to burn all the boats.” Xue Xiuzhuo stood up and said, “If Li Jianheng can’t do it, there are others. The Great Zhou Dynasty is the country of the Li family. As long as the blood of the Li family still exists, it is reasonable to change people to tide over the difficulties.”

Qi Huilian and he had different views. He only regarded him as a son of an aristocratic family who was seeking power for personal gain, and refused to talk to him anymore.

Xue Xiuzhuo stood silently for a moment and said: “Sir and I are of the same mind. It’s a pity that he doesn’t believe me, but I also want to tell him that Shen Zechuan is a remnant of resentment. He has nothing in mind and only lives for revenge. He is ruthless and narrow-minded. He is very different from the prince. To teach him with the intention of teaching an emperor is tantamount to being the aide of a tiger. Even in the future heIf you do something, you won’t be a good master.”

Ji Gang suddenly put down the carving knife, glared at Xue Xiuzhuo, and said, “How much do you know about Chuan’er? You keep saying he is a remnant, but I think you are all marrow-eating remnants! Shut up and leave!”

Xue Xiuzhuo saluted and said, “If you regret it, sir, I will be waiting for you at any time.”

he exited and left behind the curtain.

Xue Xiuyi was wandering outside the yard and saw Xue Xiuzhuo walking back from a distance.He held an umbrella and went down the corridor, but he happened to bump into a student who was leaving school.

These students who came from a brothel saluted him. Xue Xiuyi threw the umbrella to the maid behind him. He looked at them one by one. The maid said: “Is this the way you can go? You don’t know etiquette when you rush into the uncle!”

The students lowered their heads and retreated. Behind them stood a girl in her late teens.Seeing her extraordinary beauty, Xue Xiuyi pulled her sleeves frivolously and said, “You are also a chick bought by Yanqing? What is your name?”

The girl glanced at Xue Xiuyi and didn’t answer.Xue Xiuzhuo at the other end happened to approach, blocked Xue Xiuyi, and said with a smile: “Brother, have you just come back? Come back to the hospital, it’s raining heavily, don’t get wet.”

Xue Xiuyi slapped He’s hand away and said impatiently: “I know!”

Xue Xiuyi walked a few steps and listened to the students behind him salute and call Xue Xiuzhuo “Sir”.He looked back and saw the girl just now, looking at him.

The look was neither fearful nor fearful. After being discovered by Xue Xiuyi, he did not immediately move away. On the contrary, Xue Xiuyi could not help but turn his head away.

Xue Xiuyi shivered as the wind and rain hit his face, crossed his arms and left quickly.