Oriole Line

?Back then, I received Pu Shi's ten whips, but I still did not hesitate to be your personal guard, why?In the Battle of Wuchang, I risked my life to defend the city for you, why?The change of Renzi, I thought you were poisoned by an unsolvable poison, and your blood spilled on the Hall of Divine Martial Arts, why?Do you think it's because of you? "

"...Isn't it?" Pu Chen's heart beat faster.

"It's because you happen to be the commander-in-chief of the Wuchang Army." Wen Tao stared at Pu Chen for a while, then turned his eyes away and said, "When I was in Guangling Academy, I was determined to make a career. It just happened to be a coincidence between us. When we met, I said at the time that you are a better choice. Because I know better than others that in troubled times, any family or royal family is imaginary, and they cannot escape the life of the duckweed who lives today and dies tomorrow. Only a person like you who has soldiers in his hands can be invincible and make a lot of achievements."

Pu Chen's pupils constricted and his voice was dry: "So, everything you did before was for the Wuchang Army?"

"That's right, because of the Wuchang Army, I received Pu Shi's ten lashes, and I was bruised all over my body, but I was still willing to follow you. Because of the Wuchang Army, I risked my life to help you defend the city. Others' military exploits have to be earned for ten or eight years. As long as I have that one narrow escape You will definitely use me because of your experience. Xiang Hu followed Pu’s army all his life as a veteran, and Tang Yu followed you since he was a child, and it is rare for you to be entrusted with important tasks. I only need that one time to help you guard Wuchang when you are desperate. , From now on, I will be able to rise steadily in the Da Sima Mansion. A Pu, do you think it was worthwhile for me to risk my life that time?" Wen Tao looked at him, and added leisurely, "Not to mention, after this battle , even your heart is mine."

"Shut up." Pu Chen's hoarse voice came from deep in his throat.

Wen Tao chuckled: "As for the change of Renzi, the Wuchang army made great contributions to His Majesty's ascension to the throne, and they are about to become famous. If you are poisoned to death at that pass, wouldn't everything I have done before be in vain? Naturally In a hurry, the blood spilled into the hall."

"Shut up!" Pu Chen hissed, only feeling a splitting headache.He hadn't slept for a few days, and thought that Wen Tao had been wronged. Now, listening to Wen Tao's detailed analysis, he felt that he had lost the ability to think.It's not that he doesn't know that Wen Tao can be the kind of person he said, who will do whatever it takes to achieve his goals.It's just that he has always believed that Wen Tao is not.He believed that Wen Tao followed him because of his like-mindedness, that he risked his life to defend Wuchang because of the righteousness of his family and country, and that he spilled blood on the Shenwu Hall because he loved him.However, all of this is based on belief.Asking himself, he actually didn't know the details of Wen Tao's family, nor did he know what he had experienced before meeting him. He just simply didn't want to listen to Wen Tao's words.

"What you're thinking at this moment must be 'I don't believe it'. Isn't it?" Wen Tao didn't shut up as he wished, but instead accurately guessed what he was thinking.

"Whether you believe it or not is not important to me now. You just need to know that from the day I decided to take the imperial examination, I have been paving another way for myself. And when you tell me When His Majesty wanted to split up the Wuchang Army, I was already ready to get rid of the Da Sima Mansion." Wen Tao spoke convincingly, "I thought it would be a few years before His Majesty would mobilize the Wuchang Army, and then I would join forces with you." The officials cooperated in order to gain a foothold in the imperial court. Unexpectedly, Zheng Yong was more than successful than he was. I played a whole set of dramas with him, but he also involved me when he was dying. However, even so, Qi Dai There is no evidence there, as long as I swear to the death, he will have nothing to do with me. And you will come to save me sooner or later, right? "

Pu Chen stared at Wen Tao without saying a word. Wen Tao knew him too well. If Wen Tao didn't confess, as long as he knew that he had suffered even a little bit of grievance in Sijian Pavilion, he would definitely rescue him, even He did not hesitate to tear himself apart with Zhou Yu.

"But I didn't ask you to rescue me. Instead, I confessed. Why? Not only did I confess, but I also voluntarily drank Jianzhen Powder, and let Qi Dai interrogate me at will. Da Sima, what do you think is the reason?"

Pu Chen didn't want to answer.Wen Tao was not in a hurry, and waited for him with a half-smile.Finally, Pu Chen spit out: "I don't know."

"It's not difficult to guess, Apu. Just like my acceptance of Zheng Yong's test questions is a cooperative attitude, my confession is also a cooperative attitude. Since it is an attitude, just confessing is not enough, and I voluntarily accept Jianzhen San , Let Qi Dai interrogate me as he pleases. I don’t need to explain the reason. Since the Wuchang Army is going to be split up, it is no longer worthy of my attachment. Instead of this, it is better to join Qi Dai as soon as possible. After all, we are old acquaintances .”

Wen Tao looked directly at Pu Chen: "So, A Pu, the kind of person I am has never changed from the beginning to the end. I used to do anything to gain a foothold in the Da Sima Mansion, and now I will do anything to get rid of the Da Sima Mansion."

"Get rid of the Great Sima's Mansion?" Pu Chen snorted heavily, "You colluded with the officials and participated in the fraudulent imperial examinations. Even if you get rid of the Great Sima's Mansion at this time, would His Majesty still use someone like you?"

Wen Tao frowned slightly, but in an instant, he returned to normal and said, "Even if Your Majesty doesn't need me, Qi Dai's Si Jian Ge needs people like me the most. It's not a day or two since Qi Dai wanted to recruit me." , but I was afraid that I would not be able to handle me, and now I personally gave him a handle to cheat in the imperial examination, and he would wake up laughing when he fell asleep."

"Qi Dai ever recruited you? Do you want to join Sijian Pavilion?" Pu Chen asked in surprise.

"Are you surprised? It's not easy for me to gain a foothold in the imperial court with my status as a criminal, but it's just right for me to go to Sijian Pavilion." Wen Tao added with a chuckle, "It's better than going to Youzhou with the shattered Wuchang Army. "

Pu Chen took two steps back, as if talking to himself or questioning: "You would rather go to Sijian Pavilion than stay with me?"

Wen Tao sighed softly: "The Wuchang army is already a day gone by. Staying by your side is just wasting time in a bitter and cold place like Youzhou. I am not reconciled. If you go to the Sijian Pavilion, even if you can't enter the pavilion to pay homage to the prime minister, but for yourself I am still sure of earning a future.”

"Who are you and what do you want?" Pu Chen looked at him, as if he had never known him.

"As I said just now, when I left the Guangling Academy, I vowed to make a career on my own. I have never changed. In the past, this career was your Wuchang Army. Now, this career is Qi Dai's commander." Jiange." Wen Tao stared straight at him, the light in his eyes made Pu Chen feel pain.

Pu Chen's thoughts were completely confused, and he was responding based on his subconscious instinct. It was only at this moment that the pain in his heart completely spread, and he said in a harsh voice, "So, between us... between us, it's all fake?"

Wen Tao raised his head slightly and closed his eyes: "I'm not sure that it's all fake. It's just Apu, a man stands between heaven and earth, love is nothing to worry about. What's more, if it's true or false, why bother to be persistent?"

Pu Chen took a deep breath. The dismantling of the Wuchang Army had exhausted him physically and mentally, but now that he was hit by Wen Tao again, he felt a wave of despair welling up from the bottom of his heart.

The door of the hall opened with a creak, and Qi Dai came in from the side hall dressed in black. He looked at the expressions of the two of them and smiled, "Are you finished talking?"

Pu Chen's slightly unfocused eyes returned to Qi Dai, he stared at him and said, "I only have one last question for Qi Sijian."

Qi Dai made a "please" gesture.

"Since Wen Tao committed the serious crime of cheating in the imperial examination, how does Qi Sijian plan to deal with him?"

Wen Tao glanced at Qi Dai from the corner of his eye.I just heard Qi Dai say calmly and calmly: "The collusion between the Da Sima Mansion and the Ministry of Officials is not a trivial matter. It is inconvenient for the Criminal Ministry to deal with it, and the Sijian Pavilion is there to deal with it. As for you, Da Sima, you can't escape the lack of strict management and perverting the law for personal gain." This crime will have to wait for His Majesty to deal with it."

"I'm asking him!" Pu Chen roared, "How do you want to deal with him?"

The smile on Qi Dai's face deepened: "Wen Tao and I are old friends. Although he committed a serious crime, he left the Da Sima Mansion like a tiger losing its claws. Since he is imprisoned in my Sijian Pavilion, we I will take good care of him, as long as he is willing, I will let others do their best and make the best use of everything."

Pu Chen's heart sank, Wen Tao committed a felony and deserved to be severely punished, while Qi Dai's words "do the best you can, make the best use of everything" coincided with what Wen Tao said just now, and he really wanted to recruit Wen Tao.

Then, Wen Tao didn't lie to him...

Putting all thoughts into despair, Pu Chen walked out of the main hall without saying a word.

Outside the hall, there was a violent storm.Pu Chen walked into the rain as if unconscious, the rain hit his body hard, there was no pain, no cold, only endless numbness and darkness...

104, 104.

As soon as Pu Chen left, Wen Tao, who had been suppressed for a long time and almost collapsed, coughed violently. Qi Dai gave him his handkerchief. Wen Tao seemed to be coughing up his heart and lungs, leaving a little blood on the handkerchief. spot.

Qi Dai served tea to Wen Tao, and seeing him gradually calm down, he said quietly: "Wen Tao, you have turned black and white and confused right and wrong with your hand. It's really amazing. I'm ashamed of myself. When Da Sima left, his face was ashen. , the soul is not in the body."

Wen Tao's face was pale, and his fingers curled up slightly: "Just now, when Pu Chen asked you the last question, I thought I was going to reveal my secrets. Then I thought about it, how could you really let me have a secret conversation with him here? Every word we said , you heard it all."

"Your Majesty was indeed sent away by me. As for my eyes and ears, I have been in the side hall all the time. You told such a good lie before, and I, a bystander, almost believed it. How could you fall short at the last moment?"

Wen Tao smiled wryly: "Since that's the case, I've done everything you asked me to do, shouldn't it be time for you to keep your promise?"

"Naturally." Qi Dai smiled lightly, exactly the same as when he found Wen Tao in Sijian Pavilion two days ago