Chapter 557: Very Good at Surviving
Zhan Mian took a few quick steps holding an umbrella and caught up with the old tutor.
Zhan Mian could only shake his head in his heart when impeaching the envoy Chang Jie. It was something that no one in the whole court could do. How could he, Zhan Mian, be a hero who only wanted to cause chaos in the world? Zhan Mian had a lot of annoying official business, but he put it aside and asked the old master, "Teacher's 70th birthday this year... I wonder how you plan to organize it?"
Master Chu said calmly, "At this critical moment, why celebrate a birthday?"
"The birthday party is not being held?" Zhan Mian looked surprised: "Then..."
The 70th birthday has a different meaning from ordinary birthdays. Officials in the prosperous period retire at the age of 70, and the teacher has long wanted to retire. In recent years, he has been extremely busy and has almost managed to survive by cursing.
Zhan Mian originally thought that the teacher would most likely host this birthday banquet with great fanfare, and then naturally submit his resignation to the court. If he moved quickly enough, he might even be able to spend a carefree New Year's holiday.
Master Chu said, "If I leave now, I'm afraid that the prince's child will fall on my doorstep and cry all day long."
"..." Zhan Mian felt that this was not impossible. After all, the current political situation was really difficult. Not to mention the crown prince, he often wanted to cry.
Wei Shuyi volunteered to go north to escort the remains of the Shuofang Jiedushi back to Guannei Road, and another minister of the Ministry of Personnel, Cui Hao... It is said that the prince thoroughly investigated the case of the Shuofang Jiedushi and has already found Cui Hao and the Cui family...
After careful consideration, the empress finally decided to take action against the Cui family.
With this decision, the court will once again experience a violent shock at the end of the year.
Many people cannot predict or estimate the consequences.
Zhan Mian also wanted to use the prince's words to advise the saint to think twice before acting, but the saint had already made up his mind.
Obviously, in the eyes of the saint, the turmoil brought about by completely eradicating the Cui family from the court is more intolerable than the hidden dangers of allowing the Cui family to remain in the court and be used by others.
Zhan Mian couldn't help but think of the death of Lingnan and Shuofang Jiedushi...
Today, every move made by the saints is a risky one, only for the sake of winning or losing, without caring about weighing the gains and losses.
The wind and rain blew against the umbrella, and a strand of cold rain fell obliquely between Zhan Mian's brows. Thinking of the dangerous situation that was about to follow, he raised his eyes and looked upwards, only to find that the dark clouds were becoming increasingly dense and cold.
At this moment, the only comfort in his heart was that the teacher was still by his side. He couldn't help but say with a feeling of relief and emotion: "Teacher, you are concerned about the overall situation and can't bear to see the students supporting themselves..."
The teacher has gone through several dynasties, like a clear stream in the mountains that is not disturbed by chaos. He is also the backbone in the eyes of many officials like him. As long as the teacher is still around, they can still listen to the teacher's criticism of others, and their hearts will be relatively calm.
"The overall situation..." Master Chu repeated these two words and said nonchalantly, "Everyone talks about the overall situation, but the overall situation in everyone's mind is not the same thing at all."
Zhan Mian was silent for a moment, wanting to ask what the teacher had in mind.
"At this age, I don't have many days left to live." Before Zhan Mian could ask, Master Chu said directly: "While you can still stand, stand in this game for a while longer."
Zhan Mian seemed to understand: "Teacher is standing in this storm for the people of the world..."
Master Chu did not comment: "It's OK."
For the sake of the world in the eyes of a hapless student, it’s okay.
The unlucky guy wanted him to leave, so he was so busy that he actually wrote him three letters...
Thinking of those letters, Master Chu snorted in his heart, he was too lazy to listen.
It has always been the case that only teachers manage students, but how can students manage teachers? Moreover, if students do not obey, why should teachers obey? Besides, if a teacher only wants to avoid work, what kind of teacher is he?
Although he is old, he is still of some use and can still hold out for a while.
He did not retreat. He would stand here and wait for his student to come. Then he would hand over everything to her as smoothly as possible, saving her some energy and preventing her from getting hurt at such a young age.
Zhan Mian sighed a few words, and when he saw the teacher's official sedan chair in front of him, he asked again: "Teacher, are you really not going to hold a birthday banquet?"
Master Chu: "You're too long-winded."
"It's understandable that we don't hold a big one, but we still need to hold a small one..." Zhan Mian smiled respectfully and said, "Seventieth is a big birthday, and I have specially found a calligraphy and painting to celebrate your birthday."
Master Chu waved his hand and said, "Sell it as soon as possible to buy more charcoal for the family. I heard that this year is a cold winter... I don't lack calligraphy and paintings to enjoy."
Zhan Mian was helpless, but he knew he couldn't beat the teacher.
This year is a cold winter. What the teacher said is true. It is only the beginning of the winter solstice, but the capital is already freezing.
Zhan Mian personally opened the curtain for the teacher, saying, "You must also take care of yourself..."
Master Chu leaned over the sedan chair and said, "This fox fur cape of mine is very warm."
Zhan Mian: "This grey fox fur is rare... I've never seen you wear it before."
"Newly acquired." Master Chu got on the sedan chair, sat down leisurely, and adjusted his cloak: "It's an early birthday gift from a student."
Zhan Mian, who was bending over to hold the curtain of the sedan chair, was stunned: "...Didn't you just say that you would not accept birthday gifts from students?"
Master Chu said confidently, "She is very rich now, it would be a waste not to accept her."
As he spoke, he raised his hand to signal for the sedan chair to be lifted.
Zhan Mian had no choice but to lower the curtain of the sedan chair, bow and watch the teacher's sedan chair leave, with a puzzled look in his eyes - how could he not know which of his teacher's students was "very rich"? In the sedan chair, the old man's slender fingers wiped away the rain on the fox fur cloak, and his movements were full of care.
After a moment, the hand lifted the side curtain of the sedan chair and looked into the wind and rain.
The wind and rain were damp and cold, blowing into the old man's eyes, leaving behind a moist smile.
The sky and the earth gradually darkened in the rain.
Crown Prince Li Zhi returned to the East Palace, and the eunuch who followed him put away the umbrella outside the palace.
The wind blew on the way back, and most of Li Zhi's cloak was wet, and he was not in a good mood.
When he stepped into the hall, Li Zhi vaguely heard some light-hearted laughter coming from the inner hall.
The lights in the hall were lit, and the warmth from the lights came with the sounds of laughter, which seemed to suddenly dispel the wind and rain outside the hall.
As Li Zhi entered, the talking stopped, followed by a rustling sound.
That was the sound of Wei Miaoqing getting up from the chaise longue. She was eating candied fruit and listening to the palace maid reading a storybook. She was listening to an interesting part when she suddenly heard the prince coming back, so she put down the candied fruit and stood up.
But Wei Miaoqing's movements were not hurried or flustered at all, and the smile on her face had not yet completely faded when she saluted the prince.
"Your Highness, please come and warm yourself by the fire." After she bowed, she called Li Zhi, who was always looking shy, and said to the maid, "Bring your Highness the medicine."
With this arrangement, Wei Miaoqing was extremely satisfied with herself. Her job as the Crown Princess was extremely well-organized. She even felt that she had the talent to be the Crown Princess.
The palace maid took off Li Zhi's cloak. As soon as Li Zhi sat down, Wei Miaoqing sat back down and asked the palace maid to continue reading the storybook.
After finishing reading the story, Li Zhi felt warm.
After taking the medicine and having dinner, Li Zhi should have gone to the study to handle government affairs, but he sat there holding the teacup, without moving.
Wei Miaoqing asked, "Your Highness, do you have no official business today?"
Li Zhi lowered his eyes: "Yes."
Wei Miaoqing understood, oh, wanted to delay it.
Seeing that the prince was frowning, Wei Miaoqing didn't ask any questions and just sat there drinking tea.
Unexpectedly, the usually taciturn Li Zhi took the initiative to say: "Today, a minister privately reminded me that Envoy Chang Jie also has rebellious intentions..."
Wei Miaoqing was stunned. She didn't expect him to say this suddenly.
"But they told me that we can't move the regular envoys at this critical moment..." Li Zhi said in a low voice, a little hoarse: "Even they said so, it's obvious that there's nothing we can do. What can I do..."
"What I have done as the crown prince is really useless." Li Zhi's voice became lower and lower, and his head also lowered: "I can't do anything well..."
"That's not the case." Wei Miaoqing held the teacup and said, "Your Highness did one thing very well."
Li Zhi subconsciously turned his head and tried to ask: "What is it?"
"As for staying alive," Wei Miaoqing said seriously, "just think about it. You are tired and scared all day long, and you are sick all the time. There must be many people who are against you or want to take advantage of you. Under such difficult circumstances, you still survived - isn't that amazing?"
Li Zhi opened his mouth in astonishment: "..."
Is this really an advantage?
Wei Miaoqing's eyes didn't seem to be lying at all.
This was Wei Miaoqing's true feelings - as early as three years ago when she got engaged, she thought that the prince would not live long. Who would have thought that he would live to this day and even grow taller than her... When it comes to staying alive, he is simply gifted!
"Speaking of Envoy Chang..." Wei Miaoqing said, "Although I don't know anything else, I know that Envoy Chang is a very good person."
Li Zhi said in a low voice: "But good people can also rebel..."
"But good people won't kill innocent people when they rebel." Wei Miaoqing vowed, "You are so good at staying alive, what is there to be afraid of?"
Li Zhi felt mixed emotions after hearing this.
He thought he was not very smart and often could not understand the hidden meanings in the words of the saints and ministers, but listening to Wei Miaoqing's words, he felt that he was quite scheming...
But for some reason, these simple and absurd words actually made him feel at ease.
Wei Miaoqing became interested when Chang Suining was mentioned. She turned around in her chair, facing Li Zhi, and said, "The reason you are afraid is because you don't know Madam Chang. Let me tell you about her!"
Li Zhi nodded for some unknown reason.
Wei Miaoqing talked non-stop for several cups of tea, focusing on Chang Suining's prayers to the gods for the disaster-stricken people in Xingyang: "...Mrs. Chang's sincerity moved the gods and stopped the rain! How could someone who is recognized by the gods bring disaster to the people?"
She had a confident look as if "Ms. Chang was carefully chosen by God", but Li Zhi smiled bitterly.
In this way, Envoy Chang Jie did not seem like a person who would bring disaster to the people. He even felt that Envoy Chang Jie was destined to be the emperor...
"So, don't be afraid!" Wei Miaoqing was thirsty after talking, and picked up the teacup again, saying: "If you ask me, just do your own thing, and the ministers and the emperor will take care of the rest. Do you really rely on you, Your Highness, to be the only one in the court?"
The prince felt strangely relaxed.
On the other hand, Wei Miaoqing put down the teacup with a hint of worry in her tone: "Take my brother for example...Isn't he working for the court?"
"Wei Xiang is so righteous..." When Li Zhi mentioned Wei Shuyi, he felt a little ashamed and a little worried: "I hope Wei Xiang's journey to the north goes smoothly."
"I burn incense and pray for my brother every day."
Li Zhi asked absentmindedly: "Is burning incense fruit really useful?"
"I don't know, just let it burn." Wei Miaoqing was a little tired. He leaned one elbow on the armrest of the chair and spoke with his chin in his hand.
She didn't know whether burning incense was useful or not, but her mother had someone write back to her a few days ago. In the letter, her mother whispered that she had asked Madam Chang to look after her brother in private.
Wei Miaoqing couldn't understand why her mother would think of asking Madam Chang to take care of her brother, as Madam Chang was in Luoyang.
But on second thought, powerful people must be powerful in everything. If Madam Chang can really help my brother, then my brother might take the opportunity to repay her with his body... Isn't it a blessing in disguise? Wei Miaoqing was a little excited and happy when he thought of this. His eyebrows lit up and he held his chin with his fingers to suppress the corners of his mouth that wanted to curl up.
When Li Zhi saw this scene, his heart suddenly beat faster for no apparent reason.
He was about to turn his head, but Wei Miaoqing suddenly looked up at him and asked, "By the way, Your Highness, I saw today that the plum trees in the Imperial Garden are about to bloom--"
Li Zhi coughed lightly and asked, "...Do you want to enjoy the plum blossoms?"
He was too busy with government affairs to get away, so it would be difficult for him to accompany her to watch it...
"Yes!" Wei Miaoqing nodded, looking expectant: "In ten days or so, I want to invite the ladies from all the mansions to the palace to appreciate the plum blossoms!"
"..." Li Zhi forced a smile and nodded: "Okay."
Wei Miaoqing began to prepare with great interest.
It was already late, Li Zhi didn't dare to delay any longer and went to the study to handle government affairs.
But after he sat down behind the desk, he looked at the secret memorial in his hand with an expression of struggle and pain.
He was going to punish Prime Minister Cui - this was the reason why Li Zhi was evading and delaying.
Cui Hao had once taught him, and he had called him teacher...but now he was going to attack his own teacher.
It was the sage's intention to use the death of the Shuofang Jiedushi to punish the Cui family, and the officials under him "prepared" a lot of evidence for this purpose...
Li Zhi knew that the death of Shuofang Jiedushi had nothing to do with the Cui family, but he also knew that there was indeed something fishy between the Cui family and Prince Rong.
In the struggle at this level, truth or falsehood, right or wrong is no longer important; what matters is only the position.
Li Zhi felt tormented, but he had to do it.
However, when he thought about the many official positions that would be vacant after the Cui family was liquidated, and the many new faces that would appear in the court, he would have to remember faces and names again... Li Zhi, who was not good at recognizing people and was somewhat face-blind, almost cried out loud.
As for what kind of chaos the court would be in by then, he didn't even dare to imagine it.
Outside the window, the night was dark, stormy and windy, and the prince felt the same way.
On the next morning, a letter of severance of relationship that came from Anyifang caused an uproar in the capital.
The letter was written by Cui Ju himself.
The family members have no problem, thank you for your concern and understanding! I recommend a book to you - the new book by the great writer Hua Hua: "Strange Invasion, I'm not too much of a counterattack, am I?" Players invade the earth, see how humans fight back!
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