Trouble Starts with Silver Hub

Qin Shu understood the implication of his words and waved away his attendants.

After a while, they were the only two left in the tent.

Qin Shu spoke bluntly to Ren Xuan: "Ren Xuan, let me be frank. I don't want to save Yinshu City. You just need to bring the people back."

The implication is that the city must be loved and the people must come back in one piece.

Qin Shu added casually, "Ten days from now, at midnight, Yanshi will besiege the city. Bring him back within ten days."

This glaring pot, if Ren Xuan took it, he would be crushed to death: "Your Highness, it's easy for you to say, how can I bring it back to you?"

Go pick someone up? Lu Xiyun can beat ten of me, but I can handle him saying "get out"

Qin Shu just glanced at him meaningfully: "You have a way."

Ren Xuan took a long breath and his fists stiffened again.

The dog emperor was very clear-headed, so Ren Xuan simply stopped pretending and laid his cards on the table: "Let me coax you, trick you, just tell me straight. But for this matter, you need Shuwen's order."

If he wants to take the blame, he must have a lid, otherwise the whole world can escape but he cannot.

Doesn't he know the level of the Dog Emperor?!

It wasn't the first day Ren Xuan had known Qin Shu. He said this lightly now, but when Yinshu City was reduced to scorched earth, he bet Qin Shu would be able to act even more innocently in front of Lu Xiyun, repeating "I didn't know" repeatedly while clutching Master Lu's hand in indignation and grief.

And then what? Who will be blamed?

Of course it’s him, Ren Xuan.

Even if the dog emperor could be more powerful and improve his acting skills, it would not be impossible for him to be beaten with a military stick.

And Ren Xuan had to honestly smooth things over for Qin Shu and honestly take the blame for the dog emperor.

Thinking of this, Ren Xuan couldn't help but feel annoyed. I am the innocent one!

As expected, Qin Shu's non-stick pan ability was as stable as ever and never let Ren Xuan down.

Qin Shu: "There is no written document. Remember, I have no knowledge of this matter."

...I am truly impressed by you.

Ren Xuan could no longer bear it and angrily said, "Qin Shu, you can't sacrifice me every time you coax your partner, right?"

Qin Shu raised his eyebrows slowly, his tone even hinting at a favor: "Ren Xuan, as a minister, the king worries and the minister works hard, the king humiliates and the minister dies. After all, you were the first in the martial arts exam back then, have you read all the sage books?"

Ren Xuan's defense was instantly broken: "I've read all the books on Confucius and Mencius, Cheng and Zhu Neo-Confucianism, and I've never seen a general from any school of thought worrying about the life and affairs of the superiors!"

He was so angry that he just threw the can down and said, "According to the teachings of the sages, I should have crashed my head against the pillar in front of the palace and died with those old scoundrels, trying to persuade you to accept the marriage with the Fang family of the Southern Mansion!"

Qin Shu was too lazy to raise his eyes: "Go and kill yourself."

Ren Xuanqi smiled, then sighed bitterly, "Now it seems those old men were right—a country without a crown prince cannot be secure. Your Highness, it's time for you to expand your harem and have more children."

Qin Shuyun replied calmly, "You can first conquer my kingdom, and then worry about these things. I will follow your advice when the time comes."

"Bullshit!" Ren Xuan almost flipped the table on the spot: "I don't know you're a dog emperor!!"

After saying this, he suddenly paused.

...Oh, I let it slip.

Qin Shu in front of him was not annoyed at all, and was even in the mood to joke: "Then, do you accept my auspicious words?"

Ren Xuan curled the corners of his mouth, but found that he couldn't smile no matter what.

For Qin Shu and Ren Xuan, is this golden throne a blessing or a curse?

When he thought of this, Ren Xuan inexplicably recalled the marriage that year.

On the day of the ceremony to crown the queen, he claimed to be ill and could not go out. Qin Shu took advantage of the situation and acted out a scene of "harmony between the monarch and his subjects" - he left all the civil and military officials in the court and went straight to the general's residence to visit the patient, turning the ceremony into a big scene of "I am concerned about you, my beloved minister".

Then, he appointed Ren Xuan as the leader and ordered the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Personnel to work together for a whole month.

If the emperor had not become a widower, no one would have dared to dance in Qin Shu's minefield. He would have been almost convicted by this group of civil servants and become the "concubine" of the dog emperor.

In the end, although the official history did not punish him, the unofficial history was really wild.

In the unofficial history books, he slept in the same bed with the "dog emperor," and did unspeakable things. The booksellers who caught him claimed it was a bestseller. Damn, it's terrifying just thinking about it.

Ren Xuan didn't want to go through the same thing again, where his reputation was ruined in an instant just to protect the dog emperor.

He sighed and changed the subject: "Your Highness, we have 50,000 troops stationed in Fengtai Camp in the north, perhaps—"

Before he could finish his words, he was interrupted by Qin Shu.

Qin Shu was always like this, seeing through everything, yet remaining indifferent: "Ren Xuan, it will be of no benefit to us to offend these Yanshi who have the power to destroy a city."

Ren Xuan clenched his fists imperceptibly.

It's like this again.

In his previous life, his conversation with Qin Shu also ended like this.

At that time, he agreed with Qin Shu's point of view. In this world of fierce competition, one should not create unnecessary enemies for oneself.

So that year, he turned around and deceived Lu Xiyun——

"Marshal Yunzhong has been attacked. Your Highness, please ask the Crown Prince to return to your aid as soon as possible."

Easy and effortless.

This prince had always cared about Qin Shu's safety. But on the third day after Ren Xuan deceived Lu Xiyun, Yinshu Iron City was reduced to scorched earth. The city lord was tragically killed, and the people were massacred.

Ren Xuan felt annoyed, but there was nothing he could do - he couldn't persuade Qin Shu.

Qin Shu just stood by and watched the Yinshu disaster. Saving people is not an obligation, and no one can blame Qin Shu for his actions.

In this world where people eat each other, those who are not cruel enough will not survive to the end.

And it was precisely because Qin Shu was ruthless enough that it took the emperor only six years to go from being a regicide to the new ruler of the empire.

But it was also because Qin Shu was ruthless enough that it only took the dog emperor six years to go from a good prince's love story to an epic BE widowhood.

Ren Xuan narrowed his eyes and said quietly, "Your Highness, I am afraid that I am not capable enough. Please grant me the authority to act at your discretion."

···

Yinshu City is surrounded by three mountains. There is a small town at the foot of the western mountain called Qingtong Town.

The originally deserted town has been squeezed into a scene of "undercurrent" in the past half month.

Everything that should and shouldn’t have come has come, as if the battle of destiny has chosen to start in this small, shabby place.

As Ren Xuan entered the inn, the bronze bell on the eaves of the door rang softly. The noise suddenly subsided, and several eyes swept over, then quickly looked away.

The shopkeeper greeted them with a big smile: "My two guests, would you like to stay overnight or stay at the hotel? If so, I'm sorry, but our hotel is full today."

Before I could even open my mouth, I was "turned away".

But as if he had expected it, Ren Xuan was neither anxious nor annoyed, and just said calmly: "Let's have a drink, two pots of good wine."

He took his deputy general Jiang En and found a table in the corner to sit down.

Jiang En stretched his neck and cautiously probed, "General, aren't we going to Yinshu City? I heard from the brothers at the Marshal's Office that Prince Lu has been staying in Yinshu City for several months, and His Royal Highness Prince Xiang's face is extremely gloomy. If we miss the deadline, the Prince will be fine, but you, General, will be in big trouble..."

Ren Xuan picked up the wine glass and said calmly: "No hurry, no hurry——"

His eyes were dim, and he spoke earnestly and patiently, "Jiang En, let me ask you, even if we get to Yinshu City, if Prince Lu doesn't want to leave, can you and I take him away alone?"

Jiang En shook his head without hesitation: "How can we be a match for the prince?"

"That's it." Ren Xuan spread his hands. "Have you ever seen Lu Xiyun being carried away by force?"

Jiang En was stunned by the question, and after a long while he managed to utter, "Calculating the time, the prince should be going back soon. Prince Lu won't embarrass us any more, right?"

Ren Xuan looked at him meaningfully, his eyes filled with pity for "you, a simple child." "Do you think that if I could just shout and go back, His Royal Highness would have sent me here?"

Ren Xuan sighed, his tone tinged with accusation, "As a general, am I supposed to have so little time?"

Some emperors’ close ministers conquer the world, some emperors’ close ministers defend the world, and some emperors’ close ministers just take the blame...

Jiang En swallowed his saliva, vaguely feeling that something was wrong: "You mean...?"

Ren Xuan slowly raised his hand, pointed his index finger at the eaves above his head, and said with a deep look: "We had a quarrel."

Jiang En suddenly realized: "!!!"

Ren Xuan continued to exaggerate, "Besides, the Lord of Yinshu City has been displeased with our Highness for a long time. He can wave his hand and we can't even enter the city gate."

After all, the relationship between the city lord Xie Lingyan and Qin Shu is no longer something that can be summarized as "disgusted with each other".

On one side is the cabbage that I raised myself, and on the other side is the dog that took the cabbage away...

No matter how careful you are, you still can't prevent the cabbage from running away with the dog.

In front of Yinshu City, there was almost a sign saying "Qin Shu and dogs" are not allowed to enter.

It would be unbelievable if Xie Lingyan was willing to open the city gate and warmly welcome them to pick them up.

So, we have to find a place that is not under Xie Lingyan's jurisdiction and intercept Lu Xiyun.

Jiang En nodded, seemingly understanding. He then looked around and said in a low voice, "Boss, it doesn't feel right to have so many people coming and going in such a small mountain town."

Ren Xuan casually stroked the dagger in his hand, his eyes glancing towards the medicine hall across from the inn, his tone lazy and playful, "Of course something's wrong. There's been a divine presence in this town lately."

Jiang En only understood half of what he heard and was about to ask again when the welcoming bell at the door rang again.

Two figures walked into the inn, one in front and one behind.

The former was dressed in white and looked cool. Although he had a very handsome face, his eyes were as cold as ice, and he exuded a sense of alienation from inside and out.

The latter was wearing a black robe and a plain sword hung at his waist. The sword was plain and did not match the priceless jade ornaments on his belt. There was a hint of murderousness in his nobility, and a hint of impatience in his murderousness.

Jiang En's eyes tightened as he fixed his gaze on the black-robed young man behind him. He instantly clenched his cup and whispered, "General! Prince Lu!"

Ren Xuan raised his eyes and began to sigh in his heart.

With Xie Lingyan present, even Lu Xiyun seemed more approachable.

Jiang En sighed: "General, you are amazing. How did you know they would come here?"

Ren Xuan thought, after you have lived two lives, you will also be able to tell fortunes.

But he didn't say anything. He just raised his glass to cover his lips and pretended to be profound: "You kid, learn from me."

After all, some of the plots are not something I can predict accurately, but it is fate that is pulling me along.

At the entrance of the inn, Xie Lingyan glanced at the crowd of onlookers, his eyes as sharp as a knife and as aggressive as fire, and met Ren Xuan's gaze.

Ren Xuan's heart skipped a beat, and he suddenly remembered that he was here to pry someone away. He felt guilty and subconsciously looked away.

Lu Xiyun, who was following behind Xie Lingyan, was obviously stunned when he saw Ren Xuan.

Xie Lingyan raised an eyebrow and asked casually, "An acquaintance?"

Lu Xiyun lied with his eyes open, staring blankly, shaking his head, and denying everything in one breathtakingly smooth and flowing manner: "I don't know him."

Ren Xuan: “…”

Before he could even open his mouth, he saw Lu Xiyun completely ignoring him and followed Xie Lingyan to sit in the upper seat by the window.

I give up. That's it. The dog emperor still expects me to coax his ancestor?