This call made everyone around stop laughing.

This was the first time Huang Cheng spoke at the banquet, except for congratulating His Majesty.

The person who called out was not Duke Cheng, but a young and inexperienced Hanlin editor.

But it was this editor of the sixth or seventh rank who presided over the banquet at that time.

If he had not knelt down and congratulated him at that time, Duke Cheng would probably still be isolated outside the imperial city.

There is no doubt that Huang Cheng hated Duke Cheng, but at this moment he probably hated Ning Yunzhao who suddenly appeared even more, and he also felt a little regretful.

I really shouldn't have been fooled by this kid's cowardice and honesty. I should have ignored His Majesty's kindness and magnanimity, and should have gone against the will of the enemy. Even if the Ning family was cornered, I would have kicked this kid out of the capital and sent him to southern Yunnan.

But it's not too late now, it's just a puppy that has just shown its teeth.

Huang Cheng looked at Ning Yunzhao and smiled.

Ning Yunzhao looked over when he heard the call, with a calm expression and a decent smile.

"Sir Huang." He saluted and replied.

"Lord Ning must be very happy." Huang Cheng said, turning the wine glass in his hand and glancing at Duke Cheng beside him. "It's finally as he wished. Duke Cheng returned with honor. His official position was not lost in vain."

As soon as these words were spoken, the people present looked at the emperor with complicated expressions and uneasiness.

Huang Cheng is a man who relies on his age to attack people more and more blatantly.

With just one sentence, the emperor's favor to Duke Cheng was turned into Ning Yan's. After all, Ning Yan was dismissed because he tried his best to protect Duke Cheng.

Now that Duke Cheng is so honored, it proves that Ning Yan was right and the emperor was wrong.

How could the emperor tolerate such a thing?

The emperor looked somewhat uneasy.

"Speaking of which, Lord Ning..." he said with a kind and concerned expression.

But Ning Yunzhao took the initiative to take over the conversation.

"My uncle is not happy," he sighed.

Young people!

Many people present were thinking in their hearts, isn’t this too impatient?

Some are worried, while others take pleasure in the misfortune.

Now is not the time to press the matter, and this is not a good opportunity to overturn your uncle's verdict.

Duke Cheng also looked over, his expression gentle and it was hard to tell whether he was worried or surprised.

"What he opposed was the peace talks, and it had nothing to do with Duke Cheng." Ning Yunzhao continued, looking at the emperor, "Now that the peace talks have been concluded, Duke Cheng has returned safely, hundreds of thousands of people are safe, the country is peaceful and the people are prosperous, and none of the things he worried about have happened. He is becoming more and more ashamed."

He said with a wry smile.

"Your Majesty, please forgive my uncle's bad temper. He is old and unwilling to admit that he is wrong."

After saying this, he bowed his head and saluted.

So that's it... The people present looked weird, it's that simple.

Although the words were simple, they were very effective and the emperor was already smiling.

"There are different opinions on state affairs. Lord Ning is loyal to the emperor and the country. How can I blame him?" He said with a smile, "Besides, Lord Ning only argued with me about state affairs. He was not disrespectful to me, and he did not suffocate my pigeons to death."

Wei Zheng, a famous official in the Tang Dynasty, advised the emperor to be extremely strict. Emperor Taizong was afraid that the emperor would regard the pigeon as a toy and lose his spirit, so he had to suffocate the pigeon to death in his arms.

At this moment, the emperor used this as an example, and everyone present could not help but be surprised.

This actually compared Ning Yan to an important official like Wei Zheng. Of course, everyone knew that the emperor's original intention was to compare himself to Emperor Taizong, but it was still quite unexpected.

"Your Majesty is wise and brave, comparable to Yao and Shun." Ning Yunzhao said immediately, leaning forward and kowtowing again, "Emperor Taizong is no better than this."

Flatterer!

Everyone present cursed in their hearts at the same time. Even though they often spoke well of the emperor, as the sons of a sage and the pillars of the country, they should at least have some integrity. How could they speak so bluntly and talk nonsense like those ignorant eunuchs?

This Ning Yunzhao really doesn't look like someone with the surname Ning.

The emperor was obviously a little embarrassed by what he said.

"Editor Ning, you're wrong. I don't deserve this title." He said with a smile.

Although Ning Yunzhao was kneeling, his back was straight and he raised his head with a calm expression, without the slightest hint of servility or flattery.

"I am a young man, I said whatever I thought, without thinking too much." He said, "Please forgive me, Your Majesty."

The emperor laughed again.

"Why should I blame you?" he said, "Not to mention that everyone can speak freely in the court, even in private conversations, I am not the kind of person who would prevent people from speaking."

After hearing this, the other ministers could no longer play dumb and kowtowed together with Ning Yunzhao.

"Your Majesty is wise."

All the officials in the hall knelt down to congratulate him, and the atmosphere was warm.

Huang Cheng naturally bowed his head to congratulate him, but his lowered eyes could not hide his anger.

Okay, okay, young people, it would be great if you could be shameless.

…

After the afternoon banquet, the emperor returned to the palace to rest, and all the officials came out in droves.

Huang Cheng had no intention of catching up with the emperor to say anything. Now was not the right time. The emperor was just delighted by the congratulations from the northern refugees and Ning Yunzhao.

Knowing when to do something is as important as knowing when not to do something. This is also the secret of his survival through three dynasties.

Huang Cheng walked with a gloomy face surrounded by a group of officials. This planning was a complete failure. Everyone was angry and uneasy.

"I don't know anything about those refugees."

“The fault lies with them.”

"Don't worry, sir. We will check it out right away."

They whispered.

Check, what difference does it make if you find out? A good opportunity has been lost.

Not only the refugees from the north, but also Ning Yunzhao, the little bastard who took advantage of the opportunity he had prepared to show off in front of the emperor.

Huang Cheng couldn't help but sigh.

"There are so many bad guys," he said.

The officials around him looked ashamed.

"It's all our incompetence," they said.

Huang Cheng smiled.

"It's okay, it's okay, no rush, no rush, start over again, find out the bad guys one by one and get rid of them." He said, while raising his sleeves to cover his mouth and coughing a few times.

Although he is old, he is not afraid of middle-aged and young people. He has outlasted many middle-aged, young and teenagers, so what's so great about being young?

"Mr. Huang."

After leaving the imperial city, the crowds on the streets had dispersed and the streets had returned to their former tranquility. Just as everyone was about to mount their horses and sit in their sedan chairs to leave, someone called Huang Cheng.

Everyone looked back, looking somewhat surprised.

The person who came turned out to be Duke Cheng.

Duke Cheng actually called out to Huang Cheng? Logically, he should have called out to Ning Yunzhao. After all, the two of them were the most glorious today, singing in unison, and it was also mutually beneficial.

Seeing Duke Cheng coming over, the officials became a little nervous.

"What do you want to do?" someone asked.

Huang Cheng nodded.

"Duke Cheng is not a monster, don't be like this." He said kindly.

Duke Cheng had approached and stopped.

"Sir Huang, was it you who arranged for me to be blocked from entering the city?" he said.

His voice was soft and gentle, his face was kind, making people feel like they were in the spring breeze, and his manners were no less than any other civil servant or scholar.

But his words were as sharp as a knife's edge, as blunt as a reckless man's, and as outspoken and childish as a child's.

The faces of the officials present changed.