The drama directed by Consort Xian in the palace had just ended, but the events outside the palace had not yet been decided.
Right Prime Minister Gongshu Wen had sent a message inviting Left Prime Minister Chi Wei to the Right Prime Minister's residence.
Gongshu Wen Yibo was usually serious. He had changed into a gentle smile and a loose robe, and the banquet was waiting for the host and guest. Left Prime Minister Chi Wei was also changing his clothes at home. In the end, he chose a blue robe with a white collar. He changed his clothes and rode alone on the street, but he still did not understand why Gongshu Wen was looking for him.
Although the Left and Right Prime Ministers did not have any conflicts, they did not have any deep friendship. Although they didn't get along well with each other in terms of political views, they were the mainstay of Jiang Baiqu's regime eight years ago.
It was the Right Prime Minister who had persuaded the old minister who had entrusted him with the task of taking a risk, and it was the Left Prime Minister who had persuaded the newly promoted officials to use reason and emotion. This was probably the only sincere cooperation between the two of them in more than ten years. It was also a change in orthodoxy, laying the foundation for Chi Wei to become the Left Minister. However, the Left Minister could never imagine that the decision they made at this banquet would affect the fate of many people.
Right Prime Minister Gongshu Wen invited Left Prime Minister to sit with a smile.
Left Prime Minister Chi Wei smiled. He knew that even though this was not a trap, the Right Prime Minister had something important to discuss with him. Chi Wei smiled and took the wine cup.
The maids set up the dishes and wine, and Gongshu Wen waved his hand to dismiss the others.
Only the two of them were left in the brightly lit hall. The fire from the glass lamp reflected colorful colors, and the breeze outside the door swayed the figure on the window.
Chi Wei looked at Gongshu Wen in confusion. Gongshu Wen only made an inviting gesture, but Chi Wei did not refuse. He raised his cup and drank it all.
Chi Wei slowly put down the cup in his hand and said,"Elder Wen, we have been in the same court for twelve years. This is the first time you have taken the initiative to invite me to your residence…"
Gongshu Wen smiled and nodded without saying anything. Chi Wei looked at Gongshu Wen's beard and suddenly felt that the Right Prime Minister was old. Compared to Gongshu Wen, who had been strategizing during the change of orthodoxy twelve years ago, he was old.
Gongshu Wen paused for a moment and said,"Lord Left Minister…"
Chi Wei was stunned for a moment, then he chuckled,"Elder Wen, you should just call me General Chi…I believe that the reason why you're looking for me today is to discuss a major matter that concerns the country…"
Gongshu Wen shook his head helplessly, as if regretting that he had planned to beat around the bush. He sighed and said,""Brother Chi, I can't hide anything from you.”
Chi Wei smiled, and his elegant expression could not hide his heroic spirit. Gongshu Wen looked at Chi Wei and said in his heart,""Perhaps Yu Li is now the generation of the younger generation…"
Seeing that he didn't say anything, Chi Wei boldly guessed,"Is it for His Majesty or Consort Chen?”
Gongshu Wen remained silent and nodded. Then, he said bitterly,""It's for Yu Li."
Chi Wei's expression also turned serious as he said,""His Majesty left without saying goodbye probably because of Concubine Chen.”
Even though Gongshu Wen knew that there was no one around, he lowered his voice and said,""Regarding Consort Chen, I really don't want to discuss anything. What does it have to do with me whether she attends to my bed or not?”
Logically speaking, it was a great sin for the harem to discuss politics, and it was also not right for an external official to interfere in the affairs of the harem. That was why Gongshu Wen was so cautious. However, at this time, he was willing to call Chi Wei, an "old rival" who had always been dissatisfied with each other, which showed how serious this matter was.
Chi Wei added, but he tried to probe,"If not for Consort Chen, is it because of the Marquis of Flying Cavalry?”
Gongshu Wen closed his eyes knowingly and nodded his head lightly, but it was very hard.
Chi Wei thought for a moment and said," He was conferred the title of Marquis more than three months ago. Actually, it doesn't matter what he was conferred with. It's just that he became a general and Jiujiang Garrison Guard. Nearly two-thirds of Yu Li's troops are under his control. He is indeed in a high position…"
Gongshu Wen said worriedly,""I'm not worried that his achievements will shock the master, but I'm afraid that he won't!”Although Gongshu Wen's voice was soft, his eyebrows were knitted together and his beard was trembling slightly.
These words were like a bomb, shocking Chi Wei. He couldn't help but exclaim,""Elder Wen, what are you talking about? Are you crazy?”
Gongshu Wen was also speechless. He actually sighed again and said,"I don't believe that he would lose so badly in the Northern Expedition eight years ago!”When Chi Wei heard this, it was as if he had been hit by a heavy stick.
His eyes immediately widened and he said with full concentration,"" Elder Wen, are you saying…" Chi Wei's expression changed. He and Gongshu Wen both knew what they were talking about. Gongshu Wen clearly suspected that Yi Juntian had deliberately given him a handle in the battle eight years ago, causing the death of tens of thousands of troops. This was a major crime of treason, and it could not be criticized.
Chi Wei's expression became pained, and he even said in a conflicted tone,""Elder Wen, but after so many years, General Yi's achievements are obvious to all. Six years ago, if it wasn't for General Yi's desperate battle in Zhongzhou, I, Yu Li, would have suffered the same fate as Jiuyuan…"
Gongshu Wen sighed for the third time.""General Chi, I also hope that this is just an old man's imagination, but…"
"But what?" Chi Wei was rather impatient.
"However, the Yi Family only rose in Yu Li more than 20 years ago. No one knows who his ancestors were…"
When Chi Wei heard this, he said with some lingering fear,"It's true that General Yi isn't from an aristocratic family. Could it be that he didn't enter his official career through a recommendation or a combat examination?”Only then did Chi Wei realize that he had never considered Yi Juntian's family background. Although it was unreasonable to judge a person based on their family background, this could at least ensure that this person's background was correct.
" Don't tell me you have other evidence…" Chi Wei said.
" Not yet..." Gongshu Wen felt a little helpless.
The two of them fell silent, and the voices in the hall stopped for a moment.
"His Majesty is obsessed with Concubine Chen, Yi Shuimei, but Yi Shuimei has no interest in His Majesty…If Concubine Chen accepts His Majesty's kindness one day…" Gongshu Wen continued.
Chi Wei understood Gongshu Wen's worry and said softly,""No matter what General Yi's intentions are, it's not wrong for us to take preventive measures.”
Gongshu Wen smiled.
Three legs could stand together, as long as the left and right sides, coupled with the balance of the general's power, Yu Li would only prosper.
"Elder Wen's painstaking efforts…" Chi Wei also sighed.
Gongshu Wen nodded, feeling very gratified.
Gongshu Wen said,"Your Majesty's literary talent and martial strategy are not inferior to the current Kanshui Emperor of the Northern Desert, Xiao Tianyu. However, if someone causes trouble, they will have to sacrifice Yu Li to the Northern Desert."”
"Of course, it's not a good thing for His Majesty to be infatuated with a woman…" Chi Wei nodded.
"So…"
"So?"
"I was thinking that since the date of the selection is not far away, why not take advantage of the conflict between Consort Chen and His Majesty to choose another understanding beauty to send to His Majesty?”
Chi Wei thought for a moment and replied,"As long as this person doesn't have a family background like Yi Shuimei's, or is an orphan, that would be the best."”
"That's exactly what I want," Gongshu Wen said with a smile.”
Chi Wei raised his cup, his usual cheeky expression gone as he said seriously,"Elder Wen, I toast to you for Yu Li.
At this moment, Jiang Baiqu was also searching for the burial place of Yi Shuimei's mother in the huge Han He City.
Jiang Baiqu had heard that there were three plum forests inside and outside of Hanhe City. One was by the cold river in the south of the city, the other was in the west of the city, and the third was on Qingqiu Mountain, three miles away from the north gate.
Jiang Baiqu had changed his clothes and looked like an elegant young master. He searched for a long time in the plum forest by the cold water in the south of the city, but he could not find anything.
He thought to himself,'Han Yue clearly said a few days ago that Shui Mei was in the plum forest to pay her respects to her mother. There was no memorial tablet for her in the Yi family's ancestral hall. Could it be that she was not buried in the plum forest?”Jiang Baiqu thought about it again and felt that his guess was correct."Forget it, I'll go to the west of the city to take a look.”
Jiang Baiqu used his lightness skill and ran for more than twenty miles without stopping. He was so tired that he was panting. In the winter, his long hair was messed up by the wind, and he looked like a poor prince.
"Green Workshop?" Jiang Baiqu recited. Where was he? "To think that I, the ruler of a country, have never been to the place under my feet…" Thinking of this, he felt a little ashamed. Then, he saw a stall selling cosmetics at the side and slowly walked over."Excuse me, little brother, how do I get to Green Square?”
When the young man who sold cosmetics saw Jiang Baiqu walking over so rashly, he couldn't help but laugh.""Young Master, are you asking about Qing Fang?" The young man couldn't hide his amused expression. For some reason, he was happy.
Jiang Baiqu nodded solemnly and said,""Yes, I'll have to trouble you to give me some pointers."
The young man smiled and pointed to the west.""From here, turn north at the second intersection and you will reach Green Market.”
Jiang Baiqu cupped his hands and said,"Thank you, little brother."”After he finished speaking, he lifted his leg and was about to leave when he heard the young man shout,"Young master, young master, don't you want to buy some cosmetics when you go to Qing Fang?”
Jiang Baiqu was stunned. He couldn't help but be surprised."I'm going to Green Workshop to look for Merlin. Why would I buy cosmetics?”"Does he think I'm just asking questions and not buying anything?"”Hence, he smiled and said to the young man,""Give me a box of the ones you picked up." He smiled and handed over a silver ingot. The young man smiled and handed over the rouge box. Then, he took the money, but he still couldn't stop laughing.
Jiang Baiqu was very puzzled, but he didn't say anything. He put the box of rouge in his arms and hurried to Qingfang.
When Jiang Baiqu arrived at Green Workshop, he truly regretted it.
Just as he stepped into the street called Green Square, a group of women ran out of nowhere. All of them looked like they had put on makeup. They held his arm and refused to let go. They even said in a pleasant voice,"Yo, haven't you seen Young Master before?"
"Young Master, come and play at my place."
"Ha, Young Master, come here. I guarantee that you will be satisfied.”
Jiang Baiqu's heart turned cold. He suddenly understood why the young man selling rouge was smiling so happily. It turned out that he was mocking him for not knowing about this romantic place.
Jiang Baiqu hurriedly reached out to push it away and said anxiously,""Let go of me quickly, I'm here to find Merlin!”
A woman laughed frivolously and replied,""Young Master, what are you talking about? Where is Merlin? If it's the Peach Forest, I'm afraid there are still some…"
"Ha, Young Master has already arrived at Green Workshop, why are you still so reserved?”Those women had no intention of letting Jiang Baiqu go. Not only were they handsome young masters, but they were also young and rich.
Jiang Baiqu shouted anxiously, thinking,"" Who was the one who told me that there were plum trees in Green Market…" He pushed and shoved for a long time, but the group of women messed up his long robe."Good sisters, please let go of me first. I have a gift for you.”
Those women were very happy when they heard this."Anyway, if we surround her, we can still let him escape.”
Hence, she smiled and waited for Jiang Baiqu to take out the gift. However, their vision blurred as they heard Daojiang Baiqu's voice coming from afar,""Sisters, I have to leave first. I'll leave this gift to you.”
A box of rouge fell from the sky in the cold wind. It was the rouge he had bought just now.
As for Jiang Baiqu, he had already run away like a wisp of smoke. At this time, he was still blaming the little brother who didn't tell him the truth.
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]