Overwhelming mountains and rivers

"You came?"

Sensing the breath behind him, Shen Qingjun twisted a chess piece and placed it on the chessboard without turning his head or raising his eyes.

He has long been used to Chu Xuanzhao running to Yazhuxuan once a day or even many times.

"Well, yesterday, Xuanxin told me that he wanted to start political affairs with me." Chu Xuanzhao didn't care, went straight to him and sat down, looked down, and found that he was playing chess with himself, Heizi As always, calm and introverted, Bai Zi's chess style, but,

But very much like himself.

Chu Xuanzhao felt inexplicably hot.

Shen Qingjun raised his eyes, "Could it be, you don't want to?"

Chu Xuanzhao sighed, moved the white piece over, twisted one and put it on the chessboard, "It's not that he doesn't want to, but he just doesn't want him to force himself."

He only hoped that Chu Xuanxin would be happy, and if he didn't want to interfere in some matters, then let his elder brother handle them.

"He's not young anymore."

Born in the vortex of power, how could it be possible to avoid the edge all the time?Without pain, there is no growth.

"You said that too?"

"Sooner or later, he will have to face these." Shen Qingjun didn't think it was a good idea to blindly protect him and keep the cruel reality out of sight for him.

"I understand, but I just can't bear it." There was only one relative around him.Thinking of those close to him, Chu Xuanzhao raised his head, "By the way, where is Zhu Qing?"

During this time, I occasionally see Biyuan, but I haven't seen Zhu Qing for a long time.

"She's back in the pavilion."

"In the pavilion? I haven't seen you for so long... You mean, the main pavilion of Chenyin Pavilion?" Chu Xuanzhao realized that what he was talking about was not the branch of Chenyin Pavilion in the capital.

"Ah."

"Oh... by the way, Qingjun, I don't know if it's convenient for you to disclose..." Chu Xuanzhao hesitated, although he was close to Shen Qingjun, it was his secret after all.

Before he finished asking, Shen Qingjun guessed, "Chenyin Pavilion is located on the top of Yumang Mountain in the south of the Yangtze River."

"Yumang Mountain?" Chu Xuanzhao didn't expect him to say it so unabashedly.

"Yumang Mountain." When Shen Qingjun spoke, the sunspots appeared like a sudden army, blocking Chu Xuanzhao to death.

Chu Xuanzhao threw the chess pieces in his hand into the jar, "I lost again."

Shen Qingjun smiled, "I don't blame you. When you took over, the situation was not good. Let's start from the beginning."

Chu Xuanzhao cleaned up the chessboard again, "You know my style of chess well. Even when I saw it myself, I thought it was my own play—"

Chu Xuanzhao paused, twitched the corners of his mouth, smiled lightly, and said in a tone as light as smoke, "You know me, but I don't know you. In the next game, I will still lose. I can't understand you .”

I don't know what you think about me.

You know my thoughts, but I don't know yours.

Shen Qingjun heard what his words meant, and smiled lightly, "It's hard to paint the skin of a tiger. I play your chess, but it only has a shape and no soul. I can't understand you either."

I know your thoughts, but I dare not bet on how deep your thoughts are.

Painted painting difficult to draw tiger bone, Clothes make the man.

Chu Xuanzhao thought of the second half of the sentence he didn't say, his heart turned cold, he couldn't even force a smile, his face sank like water, "You don't believe me?"

Shen Qingjun's fingertips trembled and almost dropped the chess piece, "What is the prince talking about? Believe it or not? I... I don't understand.... Still, play chess?"

Chu Xuanzhao sneered coldly, it was a bit late for him to pretend to be stupid when he answered the words so sharply just now.He took out a chess piece, slapped it, and pressed it tightly beside the sunspot, "Play."

…………

"It's over..., it's all over..."

"Your Highness, I'm sorry..."

Chu Xuanlin has been in this state for several days since the empress left.

He was in a trance every day, either bored in the study, or sitting in a daze, and even his diet was irregular. In just a few days, his whole body lost weight.

"Go, go and call Li Delu for this hall!"

"Yes."

Li Delu, Chu Xuanlin's companion, although he has no official position, is still regarded as a friend by Chu Xuanlin, because his father Li Weizhen, the prime minister of Dayuan, and Chu Xuanlin have been trying to use Li Delu for many years. Gather Li Weizhen.

…………

Royal study.

"Your Majesty, the cabinet has received a document saying that two hundred Tuoga envoys headed by Tuoga Prince Gergis have set off from Tuoga King's Tent and are expected to arrive in the capital of Dayuan early next month."

"Oh? According to my decree, I ordered Li Shangnuo, the minister of Honghe Temple, to be responsible for the reception and sweep the Sifang Pavilion. Before the arrival of Tuojia's envoy, I must prepare everything properly. There must be no mistakes, and I must not let me Da Yuan lost his manners in front of foreigners."

"Yes."

Honglu Temple is responsible for guiding etiquette, hosting foreign guests, grand ceremonies of all countries, foreign officials' pilgrimage, and tribute from all subordinates.

Li Shangnuo was originally the Chancellor of Honghe Temple, and later the Minister of Honghe Temple returned to the field. With Chu Xuanzhao's secret help, the position of Minister of Honghe Temple was successfully taken over by Li Shangnuo.

As for Tanhualoujing, which was also mentioned by Shen Qingjun before, under Chu Xuanzhao's intentional arrangement, he was dispatched to Longnei Prefecture in the northwest as the governor, so that Chu Xuanzhao and others could better understand the incidents in the northwest.

Although Cheng Zhiteng, the general of the Northwest, also had correspondence with Chu Xuanzhao, Cheng Zhiteng was only a warrior after all, and he didn't know much about anything other than marching and fighting. Therefore, it was necessary to send a clear-minded civil servant to the Northwest.

The last person Shen Qingjun mentioned, Lu Wenkai, was not in the top three, but after Chu Xuanzhao got in touch with Shen Qingjun according to Shen Qingjun's instructions, he found that this person is indeed a rare person, but it still needs time and experience. accumulation.

Therefore, after various arrangements, Lu Wenkai was sent to the south of the Yangtze River to serve as Sima of the prefecture. Although the official position is not too high, it is the easiest to temper people.

Therefore, for the three people Shen Qingjun pointed out, there is only one Li Shangnuo, Minister of Honghe Temple, left in the court at this time.

…………

Buckle buckle.

There was a knock on the study door of the Prime Minister's Mansion.

"Father."

"Oh, it's Lu'er, come in."

"Yes, thank you father."

Li Delu was in his 20s, and he looked a bit sloppy, but he lacked the smell of books, but he was always respectful in front of Li Weizhen.

"I heard from people that you went to the First Prince's Mansion yesterday?" Li Weizhen was sitting behind the table, flipping through something in his hands.

"...Yes." After all, Li Weizhen was asked, and Li Delu dared not lie to his father.

Li Weizhen put down the things in his hands, looked up at Li Delu who was standing with his head bowed, and sighed softly, "... how is it, eldest prince?"

Li Delu's eyes darkened, he paused, and suddenly knelt down on the ground, "The eldest prince is dying, please help my father!"

"Fate is at stake? What's going on?" The eldest prince was only deprived of the title of prince, but he is still the son and grandson of Da Yuan, so how could his life be at stake?

"Father, father, let me tell you. The eldest prince is also a prince now, but he is no better than the fourth prince. The fourth prince has no intention of power, and he trusts the prince to protect him. Naturally, he is safe. But the eldest prince, he was once a prince, and he was once, once powerful. Now, he has been deprived of his title, and his power is gone. As the saying goes, when trees fall down, monkeys scatter, and walls fall down, everyone pushes him away. In his current situation, how could Prince Teng and Prince Xin allow him to live? The two of them will definitely make trouble, father !"

Li Weizhen sighed again, as if he was a little tired, "Father also feels what you said, but how can I save him? Although my father is an extremely prime minister, you also know the importance of my father in the court." Well, that can be said to be a soft-spoken person! The emperor doesn't take me seriously now. This prime minister is almost a title, but the emperor still has some old feelings, so he didn't dismiss his father's official position. Companion, companion, you are the eldest prince's companion, but look at me, do you still want to help him wholeheartedly?"

Li Weizhen was also born as the prince's companion when he was young, and that prince is now the current emperor.

At first, the emperor was still willing to rely on one or two, making him a prime minister, and even promised that as long as he survived, he would be his prime minister.However, he has kept this promise, but he has long since lost the half-hearted friendship, just because of "you have no joke".

Today's emperor doesn't want to see him, and he can't withdraw him. I don't know how distasteful he is in his heart. I'm afraid he will regret the promise at that time.

Li Delu kowtowed again, "...Please help my father."

"Oh, that's all, even if I do my best for the royal descendants, tell me, what is the eldest prince's plan?"

"The eldest prince is well aware that he is now a lamb waiting to be slaughtered in the court, so he wants to ask his father and his friends to speak to the emperor, so that the emperor will allow him to go to the fief and withdraw from the whirlpool of the court."

"Why do you need me? He just asked for it."

"Father, have you forgotten that King Lian has no title now? According to Da Yuan's law, a prince without a title cannot have a fief. Therefore, the eldest prince wants to ask his father to intercede for him, even if he can't. The emperor opened his mouth to give back the title, and it is also possible to be named a county king."

The title of Dayuan Wangjue, first-rank prince, second-rank heir king, county king, and then down, there are public, marquis, uncle, son, and male categories.

As for the prince of the current dynasty, only princes and county kings can be named.

"...Oh, it's easy to think about being a father." Li Weizhen turned around, thought for a while, his voice was a little serious, "Lu Er, does the eldest prince really want to quit, or..." Or do you want to live in another place and make a comeback?

If it stands on the ground, it will inevitably make the land of Dayuan uneasy, which Li Weizhen will never allow.

Li Delu was taken aback, "The eldest prince just wants to live."

"Well, you have a very close friendship with the First Prince. As a father, I will help you this time. However, the future matters can only be decided by the First Prince." Whether he is plotting to occupy the land or not, it is hard for him to say, What's more, even if the eldest prince really has this idea, even if he has a deep friendship with Li Delu, it is impossible to express it to him.

"Thank you father!" Li Delu bowed deeply.

…………

"Jun——" Chu Xuanzhao forced himself to forget the pain he felt when he played chess last time, and smiled gently, "Young gentleman, the person who was watching the eldest prince sent back a message saying that the eldest prince met Li Delu yesterday, what did he talk about specifically, No idea. Look, us?"

Shen Qingjun blinked, "Li Delu?"

"Ah, oh, he is the only son of the prime minister. He has no official position. I think you didn't see him when you looked at the distribution of power in the court." Chu Xuanzhao remembered that Shen Qingjun's understanding of the power in the court was general. The news from various officials was used for analysis.

"Oh, so that's how it is. He was looking for Li Delu... even if he was looking for the prime minister, but now, looking for the prime minister, he can..." Shen Qingjun lightly pressed the table, as if talking to himself.

Chu Xuanzhao knew that he was thinking about something, so he didn't bother him.

"He's leaving?" Shen Qingjun suddenly raised his eyes.

"Who? Who's leaving?"

"Oh, I mean, it might be that the eldest prince wants to retreat and avoid the edge for the time being."

"Oh? What does this have to do with him looking for the prime minister?" Chu Xuanzhao was puzzled.

"You and I know about the prime minister's situation in the court, and Chu Xuanlin naturally knows it too. Don't say that he is weak, even if he really tries to win him over, Li Weizhen is not a person who can be wined over. So, Chu Xuanlin is now looking for He just sensed the imminent danger and grasped at the last straw."

"But you also said that the prime minister is weak, so how can you help him? Let alone whether the prime minister will help, even if you want to help, can the prime minister withstand Chu Xuanlin's decline?"

Shen Qingjun smiled, "Chu Xuanlin is not stupid, now there is no place for him to stand in the court, taking a step back, not only can he save his life, but maybe he can make a comeback. After thinking about it, he is the only one looking for the prime minister." It’s possible. He needs a title, Prime Minister… Although——, but in the end, this matter can still be done.”

Chu Xuanzhao nodded, and squeezed the sleeves with his hands hidden in his sleeves, "That's right. Then, we will never let him leave Beijing smoothly."

Hearing his gloomy tone, Shen Qingjun couldn't help turning his head to look, "You, why did you become like this?"

"Ah?" Chu Xuanzhao was confused.

"You must put him to death?"

"No?" Chu Xuanzhao continued to be confused.

"Then you just said..." Doesn't that mean that Chu Xuanlin cannot be kept alive?

in fact,

Chu Xuanzhao did mean this, but seeing that Shen Qingjun seemed to be unable to accept it for a while, he chose to pretend to be puzzled...

"Uh, I was vague. What I mean is that he must not be allowed to be entrusted smoothly. Let's not talk about our personal grievances, let's talk about this fief. Once an ambitious prince has a fief, he is very likely to cede it. It is not conducive to the stability of Dayuan. Now that the foreign enemies have not been cleared, how can we add civil strife?"

Speaking of this, Chu Xuanzhao thought of something, "By the way, Li Shangnuo said that Tuojia's envoys have come to Yuan, and they may arrive next month. The head of the envoys is still the Tuoga prince Gergis who has been here many times. .”

"Well, I heard that."

Chu Xuanzhao was taken aback, "I haven't seen you go out, who did you hear from?"

"Shortly after you left yesterday, Li Shangnuo came over."

"Oh, so." Chu Xuanzhao nodded slightly, ignoring the subtle sourness in his heart.

"Before Tuojia's envoy arrives, there must be a conclusion to Chu Xuanlin's matter, otherwise——, things will change later."

Chu Xuanzhao sat beside him, glanced at the black hair behind him, quietly pinched the ends of his hair, and played with it in his hands, "I mean the same thing, I have prepared the things collected in the building, and I can give them to him at any time As a big gift. If he wants to leave Beijing, he has to see if he has that opportunity."

Junjun's hair is so slippery...

Sure enough, it's better to be gentle with him, if you press her too hard, don't say that he is unhappy, and you will also feel uncomfortable because of his coldness.

Hmph, talking is like an ice pick, and I don't care what others think...

However, who told me to like it.

"If he wants to leave Beijing, let him leave Beijing." Shen Qingjun didn't notice the movements in his hands.

"Looking at the Lord?" Chu Xuanzhao returned to his senses.

Shen Qingjun narrowed his eyes slightly, "The fief is from the capital, and the allotment is also from the capital."

"Oh~, Qingjun, you are too ruthless." The meaning in Chu Xuanzhao's words was only to block Chu Xuanlin's road to restoration, but he did not mean to directly get him into the situation of being sent out.

Of course, the thoughts in his heart cannot be expressed.

"It's not that I'm ruthless, it's King Teng who is ruthless. Do you think that you are the only one who can make a move?" Not to mention the match, Shen Qingjun felt that King Teng would try to kill Chu Xuanlin.

"Well, he will definitely make a move, but he doesn't know how to make a move."

Shen Qingjun gently weighed the teapot and got up.

then……

Scalp pain.

"..."

Chu Xuanzhao withdrew his hand resentfully, "Well, when the wind blew just now, your hair got tangled up. I was about to untie it, but before I could—"

As if he also felt that his words were outrageous, Chu Xuanzhao blinked with an innocent expression, "Do you believe it?"

Shen Qingjun put the teapot heavily into his arms, "Oh."

"Well, I'll go pour water." Chu Xuanzhao left with the teapot in his arms.

"…the other side."

The author has something to say:

As for that Zhaozhao who would be stupid if he saw my Junjun......