Poor monks do not break the precepts

Early the next morning, as soon as the morning market on Fangli Street opened, Guo Linnan took Ayu out to buy.Mr. Gong led Jin Shuigen and the two newly recruited servants to clean the mansion inside and out.The yard was extremely lively, thanks to Xu Sheng's concentration, he hasn't been affected by meditation for a long time.

Not long after going to court, there was the sound of rumbling wheels outside the house, and the carriage drove straight to the door of the Xu house before slowly stopping.The two princes were both dressed in court clothes, obviously because the situation was urgent and they didn't want to delay returning home to change into regular clothes.Meng Xiuran threw off the servant who was about to help him get off the carriage, jumped up, and ran into the house as soon as his feet landed.In contrast, Meng Qingrun was quite indifferent. He got out of the carriage and exchanged greetings with Mr. Gong before striding towards the yard.

At this time, Xu Sheng was reading ancient rubbings in the study, and Chen Xiang stood behind him as usual to protect him.The six princes forgot all the etiquette, and suddenly pushed open the closed door of the study room, hurriedly entered the room without saying a word, wandering back and forth in the room.Xu Sheng patiently ignored him, and concentrated on copying everyone's hand gestures.

When Meng Qingrun entered the room, Meng Xiuran couldn't bear it anymore. He went straight to the Dao case, took away the ancient books and threw them aside, "What time is it, you can still read here leisurely."

Stretching out his hand to hold down Chen Xiang's sword-drawing hand, Xu Sheng carefully put away the ancient books, his brows and eyes slightly curved, "Otherwise? Is His Royal Highness being anxious?"

Meng Xiuran's momentum was cut off by this question, and he opened his mouth slightly, not knowing what to say.He was so discouraged that he sat down on the imperial concubine's couch, and after a long time, he couldn't hold back and slapped the edge of the imperial concubine's couch hard.Xu Sheng is used to being extravagant and wasteful, but for a moment, he still felt a little distressed about the imperial concubine couch made of huanghuali aniseed material.

Meng Qingrungan stood in the room for a while, then suddenly walked to the desk and bowed deeply to Xu Sheng, "Miao Monk has friends all over the world, and I hope that Miao Monk can help and keep Mr. Zhang safe."

Xu Sheng disappeared in place before Meng Qingrun bowed down, when Meng Qingrun got up to look for him, Xu Sheng stood behind him, "Third Highness, please don't let me down, I can't bear this great gift." He pulled the imperial concubine couch Sitting on a small armchair beside him, I sat with my feet up, "I thought His Highness wanted me to find a way to protect Mr. Zhang, and come here to rehabilitate him. It seems that I guessed wrong."

Meng Xiuran couldn't sit still and stood up for the first time, without the slightest demeanor of a prince, he said anxiously: "Can you find a way to avenge Master Zhang?"

As if hearing an interesting joke, Xu Sheng lowered his face and pursed his lips with a low smile. After a long time, he shook his head and said, "It can be saved, but it can't be saved. Emperor Meng didn't kill them all because of his kindness. He just sentenced Zhang Yuheng to exile. But this time if Help him overturn the case, and I'm afraid Zhang Yuheng won't be able to keep his head next time. Sixth Highness, do you want to avenge this grievance?"

After a moment of silence, Meng Qingrun understood in his heart, his eyes were filled with wisdom and calmness, "Father..." His words choked in his throat, after all, he was Emperor Meng's son, and he couldn't say anything rebellious, "After all, I am right Don't let Mr. Zhang stay."

"If you retreat right now, you can still save your life." Xu Sheng sneered without hesitation and said, "When the position of the Eastern Palace is in vain, if you want to retreat safely, you will be dead. Zhang Yuheng is a blessed person. If you respect him Those who are in the top position, it is not a problem to take care of the rest of the world. On the contrary, it is just to die in Quzhou."

"Big brother's crown prince position is hard to secure, isn't it?" Meng Qingrun's eyes were full of complex emotions. After hesitating for a long time, he said bitterly: "If big brother can't be crown prince, what will happen?"

Xu Sheng looked at Meng Qingrun quietly, the important matter was like a trivial matter in his mouth, and he said lightly: "Release to common people. Abolishing a country's crown prince, if it is not a big case of treason and regicide, how can I convince all the ministers?" , to tell the common people. If you want to use such an excuse to easily store, the crown prince will be demoted to become a commoner is the inevitable result."

Meng Xiuran put down his hand covering his eyes, and said distressedly, "Is there no way I can help the prince?"

"Yes." Xu Sheng replied firmly, looking at the ardent expectations in his four eyes, he said with a light smile: "Seize the heir."

In fact, Meng Qingrun and Meng Xiuran had had an in-depth discussion when they came here. Meng Xiuran still did what he wanted, hoping that Meng Qingrun could stand up, but he still seemed a little hesitant.Hearing Xu Sheng's rebellious decapitation, the two were not very surprised, Meng Xiuran only said: "Even if we succeed in seizing the heir, it may not be able to persuade father to change his mind."

Xu Sheng remained calm, his eyes stopped on Meng Qingrun's troubled face, and he said lightly: "Of course, Emperor Meng's thoughts cannot be changed. But once Emperor Meng dies and a new emperor ascends the throne, some things will be much easier to handle."

Meng Qingrun's eyebrows twitched suddenly, and he immediately understood Xu Sheng's meaning, hesitantly said: "Miao Monk is saying that he will risk the world's disgrace, go against what my father and emperor have said before he was alive, and then rehabilitate the crown prince?"

"It's a pity!" Xu Sheng spoke halfway, seeing A Yu waiting by the door, he waved to A Yu to bring tea in, and waited for the others to walk behind and slowly said: "The second highness who is the most popular in the court is the mastermind behind the scenes. How can you smash a stone to move your own foot?"

Meng Qingrun said decisively: "It may not be him who ascended the throne."

Xu Sheng gently blew on the floating tea leaves, without raising his eyelids, he said carefully: "The Fourth Highness may not be better than the Second Highness. As for the other princes, the Fifth Highness's status as mother and concubine is very cowardly. Soldiers are brave and good at fighting, but they will never do such an unethical thing. The mother of the Sixth Highness is just a noble concubine. Of course, it is okay for a mother to be expensive by virtue of her son, but Emperor Meng didn't want to support His Highness, so the capital to compete for the crown prince is really too low .As for the other princes, they are still too young to be considered.”

Meng Qingrun's eyebrows flickered, a stream of determination gushed out like an underground spring, her black eyes couldn't see to the bottom like an ancient well, she stared straight at Xu Sheng and said, "I'm the only one, right?"

Xu Sheng slowly raised his eyes until they met Meng Qingrun's, "Yes, only Your Highness is left."

As the emperor's heir, no one wants to fight for the supreme reserve position, but Meng Qingrun has always understood, knows the identity of his biological mother, remembers Ji Guifei's kindness in nurturing, and is grateful for the prince's brotherhood.So he never thinks about it, doesn't fight for it, and suppresses his desire for the throne.

Meng Qingrun's hands trembled uncontrollably, he took a deep breath, his eyes changed instantly, and his back became straighter, "Let me call you Mr." After talking about his son, and because of his emotions, he slightly Drinking saliva, she said calmly, "Sir, I know that my biological mother is just a noble concubine. Over the years, I have been in the mountains and rivers all the year round, and I have never cultivated my own power in secret. In fact, it is just the same with the sixth brother. It is difficult for the sixth brother to hide. It's not easy for me."

Xu Sheng looked at Meng Qingrun with a smile, "His Royal Highness's biological mother died when you were born. Empress Zhuang Hui took pity on your loneliness and directly asked for an order to raise you under her knees. Empress Zhuang Hui passed away more than two years later. Empress Zhuang Hui loves her like a sister, she doesn't want to see her beloved son suffer, so she brought her to her side to raise her."

Meng Xiuran suddenly realized, and concluded his excited words for a moment, "Yes, the third brother was adopted to the mother's knee. It's just that the mother passed away when the third brother was very young, and then grew up next to the noble concubine and mother concubine, but the noble concubine and mother concubine He didn't invite the third adoptive brother to his name. So it's not that Beimeng doesn't have a son, it's just that everyone has ignored it."

Meng Qingrun hesitated and said, "What should I do now?"

"Don't move, don't do anything, just do what you usually do." Seeing the surprised and confused expressions of the two, Xu Sheng explained with a smile: "Does the Third Highness want to fight with the crown prince?" Seeing that Meng Qingrun was about to retort, Xu Sheng continued to speak slowly: "If you don't compete with the crown prince, what can the third prince do now? If I let you compete with the crown prince, I am afraid that His Highness will not set foot in my house again. Wait After a few months, when the position in the East Palace becomes vacant, after your Highness has gone down to talk to the imperial concubine, it will not be too late to fight for it."

Meng Qingrun questioned and said, "At that time, I'm afraid that I will be misunderstood and think that I am a scheming person who deliberately does not save my brother."

"That's right, a gentleman should be more open-minded." Meng Xiuran quickly agreed, and also disagreed with Xu Sheng's words.

Xu Sheng was stunned for a moment, and said with a faint smile: "Who do you two think Concubine Ji is? A woman and child in the market? Concubine Ji is very clear in her heart, so she won't blame Her Highness. Perhaps, she will suggest you to go without His Highness asking." Seize the heir. Not for selfishness, but for the common people."

Meng Qingrun's eyes gradually dimmed, and she said with abandon, "Even if I'm half a son, what's the use if no one mentions it?"

"Does Your Highness really think that no one remembers that you are the son of a concubine? Others may not remember for a while, but Concubine Ji always remembers." Xu Sheng felt a little tired after not talking so much for a long time, pinched the bridge of his nose and said: "You Do you know why Concubine Ji has kept you by her side for many years, but she kept silent about the matter of adoption? You know, Concubine Ji opposed the establishment of the eldest prince as the crown prince five years ago, and she mentioned your identity at that time. It’s just that Empress Zhuang Hui passed away early, and rumors about her succession continued, although the First Prince’s aptitude is mediocre, Zhang Yuheng and other senior officials thought that he could make up for it later in life. That’s why you missed the throne.”

Not to mention people outside the palace, there are many things that even the people around the emperor in the palace may not know about royal secrets, but Xu Sheng knows everything about it.It was really astonishing and horrifying, Meng Xiuran stared at Xu Sheng with wide eyes, as if he wanted to see through his heart.

Meng Xiuran admired this Wuwangya expert, but he still said cynically, "Miao Monk, no. Mr. Xu, it's too late for my third brother to cultivate power after the eldest brother is dismissed."

Xu Sheng waved his hand disapprovingly, "Since ancient times, there have been no escapes from the three rules of Li Chu, namely Li Di, Li Chang, and Li Xian. The First Prince is older, and the Second Highness and the Third Highness were born on the same day. If you want to say Li Li, you have already passed on to the Empress. , written in the jade certificate, and the queen has no other heirs, Your Highness is not only the son of the son, but the eldest son of the son." The last three words were spoken slowly and forcefully, he paused and said: "As for the word virtuous, the group of prime ministers The old minister thinks that you can afford it."

At this point, Meng Qingrun was already sober, and said with a smile: "Yes, as for power, what kind of power do I want?"

Meng Xiuran was extremely talented, and he understood it when he heard it, "That's right, people like Liu Zhongyue who form cliques for personal gain may be helpful when they seize the throne. But after becoming emperor, people like this are like rat shit in the court."

Seeing that the two brothers had gradually understood, Xu Sheng said with a sigh of relief: "That's right, if the Third Highness wants to create a prosperous world, he needs pure and loyal ministers who can govern the country, not a bunch of black sheep. The country is not stable, and Emperor Meng is still in trouble. Ruan Ruanxiang, forgot the responsibility of the king. He is really old and confused."

There is Heqin in the north, and the Western Regions are in trouble all the year round. It is difficult to distinguish between the south and the Southern Qi, and the strength of the Western Shu Kingdom is getting stronger.In any case, now is not a good time to move Zaifu's cabinet for Yi Chu. Such a decision really shows that Emperor Meng is fatuous and old.

Already accustomed to the words of rebellion, Meng Qingrun nodded and said: "I am also worried that the prince will be dismissed, and the prince will fight among himself. At that time, the court will be in turmoil, and I am afraid that internal and external troubles will follow one after another."

"It must be so."

The sound of footsteps running quickly outside the house interrupted the conversation of the people in the house. The person who came was the servant of the third prince's mansion. His face was pale as if he had been greatly frightened, and he gasped for a while and could not speak a word.Xu Sheng saw this slave in Prince Liang's Mansion last time, he acted prudently, his reaction now shows that something big has happened.

Meng Qingrun looked impatient, and said impatiently: "Quickly say something."

The slave knelt down on the ground with a "slap", "Third Master, Princess Longxiu is gone."

"What?" Meng Qingrun and Meng Xiuran both exclaimed, standing up one after another in a daze.Meng Xiuran came back to his senses first, and said sharply, "Why would someone disappear? Tell the truth."

"At the time of the next court, Princess Longxiu forced Second Master to accompany her to go shopping in the market. The shopping went well, and I don't know where the frightened horses came from the market, and they went straight to Second Master and the others. The crowd was chaotic for a moment, and waited When everyone calmed down, the second master found out that Princess Longxiu was missing. The second master couldn't find anyone. He thought he had returned to our mansion, but he didn't come back. Now several people from the palace have been sent out to look for them. No sound."

Hearing that the second prince lost Long Xiu, Meng Qingrun was secretly relieved.Just now, Meng Qingrun, who had regained his sanity, noticed Xu Sheng's calmness. He found the answer when he moved his eyes. He sat down slowly and said, "Send more people to look for it. The princess must find it."

"Yes." The servant hurriedly retreated and ran out of the empty house.

Meng Xiuran noticed that the two were strange, and asked suspiciously, "What's going on?"

Xu Sheng didn't change his habit of dialing the jade beads for a while, the sound of knocking the beads seemed to have a calming effect.When the two of them were breathing calmly, Xu Sheng said with a faint smile: "Your Highness, rest assured, Longxiu has returned to her father's side, and there will be a letter from Xishu in a few days."

Meng Qingrun asked knowingly, "Why did you leave so suddenly?"

"Your Highness is clear." Xu Sheng's face was cold, his eyes were sharp and horrified, and he said with a low smile: "Xiao Wan has been in Beimeng for a long time this time, is she really unwilling to go back? Isn't she involuntary? This is the case in the peaceful and prosperous age According to your father's temperament, if the court is going to be chaotic, he...would he let Xiaowan go back to Xishu? With Xiaowan in hand as a hostage, it's not impossible to force King Dingxi to submit."

Meng Xiuran showed an untimely joy, and said: "You deliberately let the second brother lose Longxiu, no matter what the result is, you are suppressing his arrogance. Even if the father will not blame him on the surface, he will be right because of this. He's disappointed."

The warm sun was hanging high at noon, and after talking for so long, although there was no perfect way to save the prince, there was still a way to go.The two brothers finally heard some good things, and when they swept it away, they were bored, only to find that they hadn't eaten since the news last night.Mr. Gong was watching from a distance, and seeing that the conversation was about the same in the study, he immediately ordered the servants to prepare dishes in the side hall.

Even though the whereabouts of Princess Longxiu was known, the show still had to be done, the two brothers left the house in a hurry after they were full of tea and food, pretending to go to find Princess Longxiu's whereabouts in person.The news of Princess Longxiu's disappearance was concealed by the second prince Meng Guangheng at first, but after five days, no one was found, so it was impossible to hide it.On the evening of the fifth day, the fourth prince, Meng Yinghuan, went to the palace to pay his respects, saying that he accidentally leaked the matter to his mother and concubine, Mrs. Wei.Unexpectedly, it got to Emperor Meng's ears, Emperor Meng was really furious after hearing the news, and ordered the second prince Meng Guangheng to find Princess Longxiu within three days.

After returning to Xishu, people can find it in Beimeng.On the day Meng Guangheng was banned, Emperor Meng received a letter of apology from an envoy sent by King Dingxi.He said that his daughter went back to Xishu without making a beak, and caused a lot of trouble to Beimeng. I hope Emperor Meng can forgive his little daughter's heart.On that day, Emperor Meng released Meng Guangheng and fined him a three-month salary. It seemed that this matter was passed lightly, but he could tell that Emperor Meng was very disappointed with Meng Guangheng because of this matter, and he deliberately dismissed several people. The incompetent officials of Meng Guangheng's faction, after all, left him in the cold.