Chapter 869: Life is earned, not accepted
No one expected that tomorrow would be the first imperial examination after the establishment of the dynasty, and Jiang Yubai would sneak out of the palace at this critical moment.
Xu Yu was not very satisfied with this either.
But Xu Yu couldn't stop him.
After all, Jiang Yubai's original words were either invite me to go with you, or you don't go back.
Xu Yusi was really homesick and could not bear it any longer. He was forced to endure the dissatisfaction of Mr. Xue and others and brought the people here reluctantly.
The most surprising thing was that the Prime Minister also came.
This little old man still disliked Xu Yu as always, but his opinion of Xu Minghui was unexpectedly high.
Xu Minghui happened to be away, and the old man smiled at the old man with a sigh, saying with emotion: "This boy has an extraordinary character and brilliant literary talent. What's more rare is that he has a ruthless and decisive decision that most scholars rarely see. His future is limitless."
As for the argument Xu Minghui had with Xu Yu on the way to Kyoto, in order to protect him, the Prime Minister smiled magnanimously: "A pure heart, knowing when to advance and when to retreat is worth protecting. This is the most rare thing."
There have been countless smart people from ancient times to the present, and there are even more smart people who can weigh the pros and cons.
It is particularly rare to protect one's own shortcomings.
In the past, she protected her family members, but in the future, she will be devoted to the king.
The perfect choice for a pure minister.
Even if the old man pretended to be displeased with such a person, he couldn't suppress his admiration in his heart.
Facing the old man's modesty, the Prime Minister waved his hand and said, "Please allow me to be so kind today. I think Xu Minghui is very similar to me when I was young. I am really happy to see him."
"If you don't mind my lack of talent, why don't you entrust this child to me and let him become my disciple?"
Intellectuals look down on each other.
Intellectuals are also proud.
The Prime Minister was unhappy with the situation, but the old man also had his own heart of cherishing and loving talented people.
Xu Minghui was from the Xu family, but the path he decided to take was different from most people in the Xu family. On the road of becoming a civil official and entering the cabinet, the Xu family could not give him much guidance.
The Prime Minister is definitely a rare candidate.
The old man didn't expect that he came for this. He was stunned for a moment and then laughed, "I heard Mr. Xue say before that the Prime Minister doesn't accept disciples. Why are you thinking of accepting a disciple today?"
In front of others, the Prime Minister has a hot temper and is very unpredictable. He often says a sentence in a roundabout way, and he doesn't want others to guess his true meaning with every word he says.
However, in front of the old man, the powerful prime minister only regarded himself as a junior, and his words were sincere: "I am fifty-five years old this year."
Under the old man's calm gaze, the Prime Minister said with a lingering melancholy: "At this age, even though I am stubborn and refuse to accept fate, I have to admit that I am old."
"How long can I defend the emperor from the wolves?"
"It's no exaggeration to say that the emperor is young. He has very limited people at his disposal, but countless eyes are watching him, both openly and covertly. Before I become completely useless, I have to think twice about the emperor."
He was the person the old prince entrusted his son to, and he carries the weight of that promise on his shoulders every day of his life.
He wanted to select the right person for the emperor whose foundation was unstable, and build a complete echelon for the young emperor before he could no longer stand up straight.
Only by doing all these things well can the monarch, who has the whole world in his heart, no longer have to worry about internal troubles and can do what he wants with peace of mind.
Otherwise, even if they met the old prince in the afterlife, these old ministers would not have the face to ask for his favor.
The old man looked deeply at the Prime Minister, who lamented his advanced age, and said with a smile, "Fifty-five, isn't the Prime Minister still young?"
The Prime Minister was about to shake his head, but when he met the old man's eyes that seemed to be able to tolerate everything, he was stunned and realized that he was indeed still young in front of the old man.
The old man said slowly, "People don't know their destiny, so there's no need to be so petty with the passage of time, fighting for the slightest gains and losses of a day or two."
"As my eldest grandson's wife said, life is earned."
"Whether you're a man or a woman, a pair of hands can create conflict or carve out a niche for yourself. Why worry too much about the future?"
“Young people, live in the present.”
The Prime Minister's heart seemed to have been weighed down by a huge rock, and suddenly a crack seemed to appear.
The moment he gasped for air, the Prime Minister said blankly, "Are you saying that I'm worrying too much?"
"It's too early to worry. There's absolutely no need."
The old man handed him the perfectly brewed tea and said gently, "Your Majesty is still young, but as a monarch, your pride is worthy of the nine crowns on your shoulders."
"Your Majesty is a ruler who led troops through battle in Lingnan, not a child who needs support to walk. So why should you demand perfection in everything?"
"Even if I accidentally fell, so what?"
"It's just a small price, it's not something we can't afford. As for the consequences..."
The old man smiled domineeringly: "As precious as a monarch, there is no price that Your Majesty cannot afford. Just consider it as an opportunity to learn from him. What's wrong with that?"
There is nothing wrong with the old minister's desire to protect the emperor, and his unwavering loyalty is admirable.
But the emperor must be able to take charge.
When the old ministers are getting old, the emperor must show his absolute independence and toughness. This is the only way for Jiang Yubai.
The Prime Minister pursed his lips thoughtfully, waiting for the hot tea on the table to gradually lose its temperature and become astringent in his mouth.
The Prime Minister picked up the tea and drank it all, savoring the bitter taste on his tongue. He stood up and bowed solemnly to the old man: "Thank you for your guidance. I understand now."
The old man smiled and motioned for him to sit down. Unexpectedly, the Prime Minister sat down and immediately changed the subject: "Do you agree to Xu Minghui becoming my disciple?"
The old man said with a smile: "I am really old, and I don't care about the affairs of the younger generation."
"Since the Prime Minister is interested, why not wait until the results of the special examination are announced and then talk to the child?"
Whether there is a master-disciple relationship or not can only be known by the person who is preparing to be the master and the apprentice talking to them himself.
If Xu Minghui is willing, this can be accomplished.
Although the Prime Minister did not get the answer he wanted on the spot, he still smiled with satisfaction when he thought about Xu Minghui, who was particularly to his liking.
"In that case, I'll talk to that guy somewhere else."
"Also, I would like to ask you for advice on something. Is that convenient for you?"
The Prime Minister lowered his voice to speak to the old man. Jiang Yubai, who was not far away, curled his lips when he saw this and suddenly said to Xu Yu, "Will you give me a gift if I establish her as the queen?"
The Prime Minister followed him here eagerly today just to meet the old man and get his advice on choosing a queen and taking concubines.
Establishing a queen and taking concubines is not a family matter, nor is it Jiang Yubai's personal matter.
It has nothing to do with love or affection.
This is a cautious decision made after weighing the pros and cons from all aspects to stabilize the political situation. Every step must be made with caution and care.
Xu Yu watched as Jiang Yubai snatched away the freshly grilled meat once again with swift movements. He tightened his jaw and said coldly, "It is natural for the emperor to marry, and I, your humble servant, to offer a gift of congratulations."
Jiang Yubai was about to pick up his chopsticks again, but Xu Yu could no longer bear it: "But Your Majesty, freshly grilled meat does not count as a gift!"
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