Civil servants' opinions

Since Qin Shu's mind was as clear as a mirror, Ren Xuan felt that there was no need for him to worry about it.

The dog emperor woke up on his own, and Ren Xuan continued to slack off at work and have a love affair at public expense with a clear conscience.

Ren Xuan's Diary:

On July 23rd, we had tea at the Lu Mansion.

When the weather is hot, it is not good to use your brain, but to use your heart.

——

On July 24th, we had tea at the Lu Mansion.

Shi'an had a cold face and replaced the good tea. The new tea was a bit bitter.

——

On July 25th, we had tea at the Lu Mansion.

The Yanshu group started to criticize Qin Shu again, and he cursed a few times, feeling relieved.

There's a lot of resentment among the group, so tomorrow... I have to go find the Dog Emperor.

——

On July 26th, we had tea at the Lu Mansion.

Ren Xuan, ah Ren Xuan, you can't be so depraved.

Once the dog emperor dies, you will not have a good time either!

——

July 27th

Drinking tea at the Lu Mansion.

…

I drank tea for half a month, and in the blink of an eye it was already Mid-Autumn Festival.

Night, Prince Jin's Mansion.

Ren Xuan lowered his head and walked into the main gate of Prince Jin's Mansion without haste or slowness.

As soon as he stepped through the main gate, Ren Xuan was caught by Qin Huaizhang and scolded: "It was you who proposed the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet to me, but you haven't been seen all day. Ren Xuan, are you teasing me?!"

Ren Xuan skillfully evaded the question, "Your Highness, what are you talking about? Lu Jie is hosting a banquet at night. Even if I were to come here during the day, there would be nothing I could do."

Are you kidding me? It’s ok that I accompany you to work overtime on Mid-Autumn Festival night, but you can’t even celebrate the festival with your partner during the day?

It wasn't me who transferred Lu Xingchuan to the southern area for inspection. I can't just be alone drinking with no one and delay other people's dating, right?

Qin Huaizhang's face turned cold, and he said in a cold voice, "I have deployed a large number of troops outside Luhuaxuan. If Lu Jie dares to do anything illegal tonight, I will make sure he is doomed. Don't let me down."

Ren Xuan slowly clasped his fists and replied calmly, "Don't worry, Your Majesty."

···

Luhuaxuan, Songfengge.

Orioles sing and swallows dance, in colorful clothes and feathered robes.

The bright lights illuminate every corner of the pavilion.

Gold plates, silver cups, and amber carvings.

As the lights came on, there was a heavy and stagnant feeling in the hall.

Qin Huaizhang was the first to break the dead silence, his deep voice tinged with provocation: "You gentlemen have invited me to a feast. Why aren't you even picking up your chopsticks?"

No one was interested in the fine wine and delicious food - this was a Hongmen Banquet.

Qin Huaizhang didn't believe that anyone would dare to use force in the imperial city. It all depended on what tricks these Confucian scholars were up to.

Lu Jie's eyes sharpened, and he spoke directly, "Prince Jin, it's rare for you to have the time to gather with us, so I'll speak frankly. The situation at court is turbulent and complex, and Your Highness must distinguish right from wrong and not let your selfish desires harm state affairs."

"ha."

Qin Huaizhang laughed out loud: "Private motives? State affairs? Who is selfish? Who is state affairs?"

Lu Jie remained calm and said, "Your Highness Prince Xiang cannot be the emperor."

Qin Huaizhang laughed even harder: "If Xiaoshu can't do it, then who can? The second brother's whereabouts are still unknown, and you don't worry about that, but worry about the third brother instead. Lord Lu, aren't you meddling too much?"

Lu Jie spoke calmly, each word resonant: "Only talent and virtue can win the hearts of the people. Your Highness is destined by heaven and should inherit the throne. There is no doubt about this."

After saying this, he slowly stood up, and everyone in the hall looked at him sideways.

"Jingxi has controlled the emperor for a great many generations. For the past thirty years, Empress Lu has been in charge of all government affairs; at court, the two saints preside over the government!"

Lu Jie was filled with righteous indignation, his voice as loud as a bell: "Let me ask you, gentlemen, in this world, is the surname Lu or the surname Qin?!"

Qin Huaizhang couldn't laugh anymore. He was raised by Empress Lu. An elder sister-in-law is like a mother. Prince Jin finally restrained himself from cursing: "My royal brother and his wife are in perfect harmony. How could you have any objections?"

Lu Jie slowly shook his head, then spoke passionately again, "How could it be just the Queen? The Lu family is extremely favored, with fathers, sons, and brothers all holding high positions. One king and five marquises in one family is simply unheard of and unprecedented!"

Lu Jie paused, then spoke more pointedly, "Lu Xiyun, who has done nothing of note, is determined to dethrone and enthrone the throne. How did His Royal Highness the Prince of Xiang achieve his current position? Prince Jin won't say he doesn't know, right?"

Lu Jie laughed jokingly, "I, the future crown prince of the Eastern Palace, have to rely on clinging to the son of a vassal king to gain the throne. This is simply ridiculous!!"

Qin Huaizhang's brows furrowed, anger evident in his words: "Who your Highness Prince Xiang associates with is your own business. Lu Jie, you are the emperor's salary, so you shouldn't discuss the dragon veins privately."

Lu Jie took a few steps forward, refusing to give in. "I, Lu Jie, eat the emperor's salary, so I should share the emperor's worries! Anyone can become emperor, but Qin Shu cannot!"

"Look at His Royal Highness Prince Xiang, what does he look like now? He dares not say anything Lu Xiyun says."

"A prince of the royal family is suppressed by the son of a vassal prince and can't even raise his head."

"If Prince Xiang really came to power with the power of the Lu family, how will he be able to check and balance the Lu family in the future?!"

"The Empress, a woman of her generation, has been in the imperial court for over twenty years. Lu Xiyun will be even worse."

Lu Jie's tone gradually became higher, and his voice was like thunder breaking through the air, shouting angrily.

"By then, will he be the emperor, or will Lu Xiyun be the emperor?! By then, whose kingdom will rule over the vast land that I have worked so hard for?!"

The atmosphere in the room suddenly became tense.

Lu Jie shook his sleeves and sighed, "The Divine Land has collapsed, my hometown is in ruins, and my ancestors' country has been destroyed in an instant. By then, it will be too late to regret!"

Minister Lu spoke passionately, and many officials present followed Lu Jie's lead, their faces flushed with anger.

Over there, Qin Huaizhang lowered his brows, as if he had really thought about it seriously. He said, "Although Xiao Shu seems a little naive in some aspects of his dealings, he is not completely without any scheming—"

Before he finished speaking, Ren Xuan, who was standing behind him, started to twitch his eyelids.

Oh, little white rabbit, if there is a rabbit that can eat a tiger without spitting out the bones, Qin Shu is it.

To be honest, if it weren’t for the dog emperor who acted himself out.

The history of Qin Shu's rise to power is an eternal example of leveraging one's own strength and exercising checks and balances.

In terms of cunning and maneuvering, there were many old foxes in the court who had abused their power for thousands of years. But in front of Qin Shu, they were all just pawns on the chessboard, making one move and giving another, and in the end, they all became stepping stones for the dog emperor.

Among these, only Qin Shu was used, but there was no Qin Shu being used.

Lu Jie mentioned the Lu family. Let’s talk about the Lu family. After Lu Xiyun’s death, the Xijiang family was completely extinct.

The Lu clan's branch fought against each other for the throne, resulting in bloodshed. The result? Qin Shu immediately reduced the power of the clan, completely eradicating it.

For the Lu family, it's definitely not worth it.

Ren Xuan stood by and listened to this conversation. He sighed in his heart, "Your Highness, the Lu family is your nephew's greatest source of experience. Don't be fooled by them."

Fortunately, Qin Huaizhang did not let Lu Jie lead him astray. Prince Jin changed the subject again: "What you gentlemen said just now is not without reason, but I think it is far-fetched to apply this judgment to Xiyun."

Lu Xiyun, that was the child that Qin Huaizhang raised.

In the past, when the prince was still alive, Qin Huaizhang often took his two fair-skinned little boys to chase butterflies and catch fireflies in the imperial garden and to peel off the tiles on the roof.

If his nephew is somewhat naive, then the emperor's sister-in-law's nephew is even more so.

The fact is, Xiyun is having an easy life.

Things that others have to work hard to fight for, Lu Xiyun can get with just a stretch of his hand.

In this royal land of Dragon City where "people not only have to bite people, but also have to bite dogs", Lu Xiyun has not even learned "how to fight".

He doesn't need it.

He possesses exceptional talent, yet remains untainted by political maneuvers. His martial arts prowess is unmatched, yet he lacks ambition and even has little interest in politics.

The emperor would laugh in his dreams at such a border king.

Qin Huaizhang sometimes thought that this might be what the emperor's sister-in-law did on purpose.

The Lu family of Western Xinjiang will only be a loyal sword in the hands of the king, with a cold light in the sheath, but will never betray the master.

Qin Huaizhang asked directly, "Minister Lu, do you really think Xiyun has the skills and cunning of my sister-in-law?"

But Lu Jie was already waiting there: "Isn't this even scarier?"

The Shangshu's group was very secretive: "Virtue does not match the position, and disaster will follow. If the Empress is really just an ordinary woman, what will Dagan be like in the past thirty years? Your Highness, have you ever thought about it?"

Qin Huaizhang figured it out. You bastard, you called my brother a tyrant who lets his wife manipulate him, right?!

——I can’t stand it at all!

Prince Jin slammed the table and stood up, shouting angrily: "Lu Jie! Don't go too far!!"

Minister Lu sighed softly, sat back in his seat, and spoke in a low, yet chilling tone, "It seems... it's no use trying to reason with His Majesty."