After rebirth, I joined forces with my mortal enemy to seek revenge.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs is now under the original leadership. Since Zhang Rang was demoted to his family, his status has risen. Whether he colluded with Cui Shao and others to frame Li Xiujing is still undetermined. If Su Jinghui insists on taking this opportunity to annex the Shen Ce Army, it is no longer tenable in terms of justice. As for what happens next, the Longxi Li family will definitely not continue to live in harmony with Cui Shao and others. At that time, they will most likely intervene in the court and snatch the interests of the Cui and Wang families.

The appointment of high-ranking imperial army generals like the Great General of the Gods of Strategy was directly approved by the emperor, and ultimately the provincial government had to agree regardless of whether there were any objections. The degree of cooperation between the Cui and Wang families also determined their attitudes. As for whether the Emperor of Wei would allow the Southern Court to annex the Gods of Strategy Army, that was another story.

Jia Gonglu's smile deepened upon hearing this, and his eyes looking at Pei Jiaoran also faded away from vigilance, "Prince Pei, do you want me to cooperate with you to deal with Su Jinghui together?"

"Cooperation? I never expected you to cooperate with me." Pei Jiaoran smiled and sat down beside the brazier, fiddling with the documents that had not yet been burned. "I just think that you, Mr. Jia, know how to tolerate each other for the sake of the country."

As if he found Pei Jiaoran's praise rather irritating, Jia Gonglu let out a sneer from his throat.

As soon as the laughter died down, there was a sudden sound of orderly footsteps at the door, accompanied by the sound of armor rubbing against each other.

Hearing the voice, Pei Jiaoran turned back calmly. He saw the firelight reflected on the window screen, and when he turned back again, he met Jia Gonglu's cold and sharp eyes.

"Mr. Jia, I heard that someone broke into the Chancellery at night. Did he try to burn the confidential documents in the ministry?" The Jinwu Guard at the door asked loudly.

He drank the tea and then put it down. Jia Gonglu smiled and said, "It's all a misunderstanding. It was Pei Xianggong who wanted to discuss something with me. You have worked hard, please go back." After giving the order, he said in a gentle voice, "Pei Xianggong will definitely understand my difficulties."

"The Shangshu Province is a confidential place, I understand." Pei Jiaoran still sat beside the brazier, "But even so, how can we do anything about it if someone covets it?"

"Prince Pei, you are the prince's tutor. I am the teacher of the King of Wu. Logically, it is impossible for you and I to sit together, let alone cooperate." Jia Gonglu stroked his beard, "But now we can sit together calmly."

"As the saying goes, one should tolerate each other for the sake of the country. How can we not connect you and me together? The crown prince is the legal system, and serving the country is the righteousness." Pei Jiaoran nodded and smiled.

Jia Gonglu stared at it and thought, if he really let Su Jinghui frame Li Xiujing, then the country would be caught in war. And the situation would become more complicated.

Pei Jiaoran continued to analyze, "In the current situation, we must ensure that the Shen Ce Army's westward expedition goes smoothly, and it is even more inappropriate to negotiate with Tubo and Nanzhao. Li Xiujing is definitely not an ordinary person, and he has always been determined to eliminate border troubles. The court is unable to eliminate the foreigners, and it is unknown where the border defense will be. Although the country's strength will not lead to a major defeat, and the Tubo-Nanzhao coalition will not gain any benefits, the next step must be compromise."

"Someone has to take the blame for the devastation on the battlefield. As the one who recommended Li Xiujing, I naturally cannot escape. Lord Jia, you are in charge of the Political Affairs Hall, and the war has failed. If His Majesty needs an outlet to vent his anger, Lord Jia, you are naturally the most suitable person."

"Cui and Wang are both pursuing their own selfish ends. But they want a poor guest like me to be loyal to the country?" Jia Gonglu showed disdain on his face.

Upon hearing this, Pei Jiaoran raised his head, his eyes bright as lacquer, "The so-called aristocratic family, seemingly based on bloodline, is actually based on talent. If there is no talent to take over, the aristocratic family will become rotten from the inside out. It's time for you and me to take over."

"You and I will take over?" Jia Gonglu smiled contemptuously, "But you and I will each return to our respective masters in the end."

Pei Jiaoran smiled and said, "But if there is no country, or the country is too weak. Lord Jia, who do you think His Majesty would sacrifice as a hostage when needed? You and I are not willing to make progress by any means and make friends with cliques. You and I are carrying the banner of justice, so why can't the poor people in the world take advantage of this opportunity?"

Staring at Pei Jiaoran in front of him, Jia Gonglu seemed to remember something.

"You are more ruthless than Wu Changli, but you know better how to judge the situation." Jia Gonglu said slowly.

Pei Jiaoran looked a little dazed, as if he had not heard this name for a long time. After a long while, he said, "Although Lord Changli is dead, his blood is like the blood of Minister Ji. Your Majesty should not let it go."

"What a blood like Ji Shizhong. If you grew up in my family, my family would have no worries about not being able to pass on for a hundred years." Jia Gonglu stroked his long beard lightly, "Well, I will listen to you for once, and endure with you for the sake of the country once."

Hearing this, Pei Jiaoran smiled slightly and bowed.

The door opened, and the moonlight poured in. Not far in front of her, under a pine tree, stood Lu Zheng in armor. He looked at her with doubtful eyes.

Ignoring Lu Zheng's gaze, Pei Jiaoran walked up the corridor.

A familiar voice came from behind, "Why did you cooperate with Jia Gonglu?"

Someone in the darkness grabbed her sleeve, eyes gleaming with fire, "Even if the aristocratic families have their own private interests, the poor families are not necessarily clean. They broke out of the ground, and in order to strengthen their own roots and branches, they did not hesitate to cooperate with the imperial power. In such a world, any political struggle born in the darkness will be allowed. And the eunuchs are the rotten rats and ants that breed in this world, they should be wiped out together. Only in this way can we change the world to a peaceful sea and a peaceful river."

"You still don't understand." Pei Jiaoran tilted his head and looked at the hand holding his sleeve with sarcasm. "Oh, in a peaceful and orderly world, conquest is despised, and in a chaotic world, war is praised as a cleansing weapon. However, with the death of Li Xiujing, where will the righteousness fall? There will be people who praise you for eliminating the scourge of the Party and the Factions, and you are a gentleman. But who will be responsible for the death of the general and the endless war? The rise and fall of the country, the people are all suffering. Your righteousness is indeed bright and upright, but the world is not decided by you."

"He understands me, so he can stand shoulder to shoulder with me. He and the soldiers who went on the Western Expedition healed the wounds on the border with blood and tears. And you, and even the ambitions of the aristocratic families, are nothing more than a focus on the country and the people under the influence of private schemes, rather than a love for the country and the people. The so-called righteous arguments, political choices, population and army are all pawns on your chessboard. From the moment you killed him, the generals will no longer be loyal, fear and suspicion will be passed down from generation to generation in history books, and the seeds of ambition will take root and sprout in the dark. His death may be unknown, but you will also die in a darker conspiracy politics."

"You and I have chosen different paths, and our backgrounds are also different." Pei Jiaoran bowed and smiled, "If you choose to be with them, you and I will go our separate ways. When we meet again in the future, we may drink together or face each other with swords. It all depends on your decision."

After saying this, Pei Jiaoran turned away and walked along the corridor towards the outside of the Shangshu Province until the darkness completely engulfed her figure.