Invincible son

Chapter 1306 1307 [Tao Li Chunfeng a glass of wine]

The first year of Daliang civilization, the seventh day of September.

Two days before the Heaven Sacrifice Ceremony.

The officials of the DPRK and China were so busy during this period that they finally made all the preparations before the emperor left Beijing tomorrow, including the entire process of the ceremony, the detailed arrangements for the Xingliang Mansion, the drafting of the list of entourage, and the comprehensive planning. Guard work.

Wu Cunren, a scholar of the Imperial Academy and Minister of Rites, is in charge of the ceremony. This is the first time he is in charge of such an important task. Fortunately, the early preparations went smoothly.But he couldn't relax like the others, and was summoned to Jingren Palace by an inner eunuch before returning home to catch his breath.

Empress Dowager Wu ordered people to remove the bead curtain that cut off the line of sight, and even the most trusted female history had retreated, so there were only two people present in the hall.

Wu Cunren's face is slightly tired, but his posture is still upright and outstanding.

He calmly looked at the Empress Dowager Wu who was sitting on the long couch, and said unhurriedly: "Reporting to the Empress Dowager, I am fortunate that I did not disgrace my life."

The Empress Dowager Wu looked at this young courtier who was rising to the sky, and vaguely saw Mo Haoli's demeanor from his demeanor, she couldn't help but feel more satisfied, and smiled and praised: "You have worked hard this year."

Wu Cunren lowered his head slightly and said: "Your Majesty praises you, this is the duty that I should do."

After the Dingguo Mansion assassination case ended, Ning Huai'an, Minister of the Ministry of Officials, was forced to resign, and Luo Ting, the governor of the left, also euphemistically refused to mention the marriage, but not many people knew that the only nephew of the new Hanlin scholar and the legitimate daughter of the Liu family in Ruifang Lane The marriage was not affected in any way.The two families have completed the first three ceremonies of the six rituals, and the wedding date has also been confirmed.

Empress Dowager Wu pointed to the round stool next to her and said cordially, "Sit down and talk."

"Thank you for your seat."

Wu Cunren didn't put on any pretense, and sat on it calmly, and then said: "According to my observation, the king of Jin has a lot of support in the court, not to mention the power in the army, such as Jianrong, Minister of the Ministry of Industry, and Liu Gongchuo, Minister of the Ministry of War. Or, the series of disturbances made by the King of Jin in the West Mansion earlier, and the impeachment of the former minister of the Ministry of War by Ouyang Jing at the court meeting that day, were basically paving the way for Liu Gongchuo to take over the Ministry of War."

Empress Dowager Wu said with emotion: "It would be great if other people could have your cognition."

Wu Cunren shook his head and said: "This insight is nothing. There must be many ministers in the court who can see it, but they don't care too much. In my opinion, the scariest thing about King Jin is more than that. The layout is buried in Taishitai Pavilion and Luanyiwei, so it is difficult to hide the troubles in the capital from his eyes."

Empress Dowager Wu raised her eyes to look at him, showing a slightly gratified look: "Fortunately, the late Emperor and Mr. Mo Wenzheng handed over those dead men to you."

Pei Yue's guess was correct, Fan Yu was just a pawn pushed out by the two people in the palace, it was not Mo Haoli's choice at all, those dead men hidden in the dark corners were actually controlled by Wu Cunren.

Wu Cunren lowered his eyes when he heard the words, and said calmly: "The King of Jin has probably guessed the details of the minister, but this is not important anymore. The assassination case of the Dingguo Mansion and the empress sent people to contact the Marquis of Xiangcheng and Marquis Puding, plus the officials in the court. The private connection must have convinced King Jin that the empress will choose to take the initiative to attack him."

Empress Dowager Wu nodded slightly, but she didn't show complacency on her face. Instead, she said with a slightly heavy voice: "The late emperor once said that if Pei Yue's power is too difficult to control, we can use this strategy left by him. Although the Ai family has ordered the female history to inform that people, and has already received his affirmative answer, but the outcome of this matter is unpredictable.”

Wu Cunren said quickly: "Your Majesty, don't worry, King Jin's mind is now on defense, and he probably won't guess the real killing move. Besides, I have already placed more than two hundred dead men into the entourage of the ceremony. will cooperate."

Empress Dowager Wu suddenly sighed, and asked with a complicated expression: "Do you think Pei Yue will become a person like Wang Pingzhang?"

Wu Cunren knew that this noble woman was not unbearable, she was just worried about an unexpected ending, so she changed the subject and said: "Your Majesty, I received an urgent report before entering the palace, and Lord Luo, who is in charge of the left, is going to the palace alone. Prince Jin's Mansion."

Empress Dowager Wu was startled, and then she understood the purpose of Luo Ting's trip. After a moment of silence, she said quietly: "If Pei Yue is willing to delegate power, he should take over Pingzhang's military affairs after Fan Yu's death. Lord Luo Jiyu is loyal to the country, It's a pity that he will still be disappointed this time."

She pulled away from that uneasy mood, her eyes became stern, and she said to Wu Cunren: "Just follow the plan."

Wu Cunren stood up and saluted, and said respectfully, "I accept the decree."

……

Prince Jin's Mansion, the flower hall of the former house.

Pei Yue really did not expect that Luo Ting would come to visit at this juncture.When he heard the servant girl's pass, he was playing mahjong with the family members of the mansion. On the way from the back house to the flower hall, he probably guessed why Luo Ting came today.Although he didn't feel disgusted by this, he was a little helpless after all, because he had already clearly explained what he needed to say on the night when he was assassinated in Dingguo Mansion.

However, Luo Ting's opening remarks surprised Pei Yue a little.

"At this time last year, I met Gu Liang in a wide and narrow alley and told some secret stories. That was also the last time I had a private conversation with him in this life."

Luo Ting's tone was very calm, and his expression was normal, but Pei Yue could hear a bit of melancholy, and couldn't help asking: "Why is it the last time?"

Luo Ting was not surprised that he was able to grasp the most critical issue, and sighed softly: "The way is different, so don't conspire with each other."

Pei Yue frowned slightly, Gu Liang never told him about it, nor did he send anyone to secretly watch the whereabouts of these two elders.

A look of recalling the past flashed in Luo Ting's eyes, and he said slowly: "In that remote town of Dingzhou, I was a student who studied hard in the cold window, and he was a frustrated general, with the ambition of helping the country in his heart. Later, In those years of ups and downs, he finally came closer to realizing his ideal step by step, but he participated in the killing of the king in Nanxun Palace."

With a solemn expression, Pei Yue put down the teacup in his hand.

Seeing this, Luo Ting waved his hands and said, "Don't be nervous. The late emperor has passed away. In order to take care of the overall situation of the court, even though I guessed his role in this matter, I didn't choose to make it public. It's just that the 30 years of close friends are irreversible. , eventually turned into a river of spring water."

Pei Yue couldn't help being silent when he heard the words.

He can understand this kind of complex emotions. When he was young, he was full of spirit and ambition, and when he was young, he rose to the top and held high positions, but in the end he parted ways on the most critical issues.In fact, for Luo Ting, as long as Gu Liang was not involved in that incident, everything else would be fine. However, the earth-shattering explosion in Nanxun Hall had already crossed his bottom line.

I only sigh that things are often unsatisfactory in the world.

When his mood was surging, Luo Ting continued: "I still remember that night, when you sneaked into my mansion silently, what you said and thought made my eyes shine, and I regret that you are not a civil servant countless times. But if you don't You have been born and died, and Daliang will not expand the territory, it can be said that if you lose, you will gain."

He switched from the relationship with Gu Liang to the story with Pei Yue, everything was very natural.

Pei Yue probably understood the deep meaning of his words, and said calmly: "In fact, I know in my heart that Mr. Luo and Mr. Mo Wenzheng have given me great help and care these years. Without the protection of you elders, it would be difficult for me to come to where I am today This step."

Luo Ting smiled slightly, shook his head and said: "In the end, it depends on your own efforts. I am here today not to persuade you to take over Pingzhang's important military affairs, nor to ask you to do something based on past affection."

Pei Yue was slightly puzzled.

Luo Ting looked straight into his eyes and said softly: "You are in a difficult situation, the palace is very difficult, and the courtiers are very difficult. The root of everything is that the power balance between the monarch and his ministers has been out of balance. Before you return to Beijing, I want to How the situation in the capital will develop, but I can’t guess how you will choose, so I can only use the most conservative attitude to try to bridge the gap between the two sides. Now it seems that I have failed, and I am ashamed of the entrustment of the late emperor.”

Pei Yue shook his head and said, "Lord Luo, this is the way things are in the world, and everyone will make their own choices."

Luo Ting heard the unfinished meaning in his words, and said slowly: "You should feel very disappointed."

Pei Yue was silent for a long time, and said with a wry smile: "I'm really disappointed."

Luo Ting nodded and said, "It should be so."

Pei Yue felt a little surprised in his heart. Now he already understood that a person's character and standpoint are two different things. No matter whether he can accept it or not, the objective facts are there.Just like the middle-aged man in front of him, he never hides his appreciation for himself, and is full of praise for his ability and integrity, but this time he still chooses to stand on the opposite side of himself.

Luo Ting didn't go further into this topic, and suddenly looked to the side and said, "Is there any wine?"

Pei Yue had already retreated, so he got up and brought a jug of wine and two glasses himself.

Luo Ting looked at the slightly rippling wine in the glass, raised the cup with both hands facing Pei Yue, and drank it down in one gulp.

Pei Yue naturally did not hesitate.

Luo Ting put the wine cup on the table, and said to Pei Yue, "I know you are fully prepared, but I hope this is not the last glass of wine between you and me."

Pei Yue's heart was shocked, but Luo Ting didn't say any more, turned around and walked out the door.

Pei Yue saw him off all the way, Luo Ting stopped, looked up at the gorgeous sunlight, and said with emotion: "The sky is clear, I think the day after tomorrow will be a good day."

He turned to look at Pei Yue, and said gently but firmly, "Please stay."

Pei Yue could only stand where he was, watching the thin middle-aged man disappear from sight.

(End of this chapter)