Inside the hall,

there was a sudden silence at first,

followed by,

an atmosphere as intense as water about to boil, already unable to contain itself and beginning to emit steam.

Fan Li's nostrils, with each inhale and exhale, were already making audible sounds.

If life were a banquet, then the things one busied oneself with on a daily basis were merely cold appetizers, snacks, and side dishes, while the main course, or the real deal, was cooked by the master.

There was no rushing, no hurrying.

It was no longer just a matter of fine craftsmanship coming from slow work; the chef was more like someone kneeling there, burning incense and praying to Buddha every day, drawing lots to decide when to start the fire and cook.

Xue San immediately burst into tears,

hugging his chest, he knelt down,

and cried out:

"Master, your subordinate has finally waited for this day, finally waited for this day, waited for the day when you can cause mountains to collapse and rivers to flow backwards with a mere gesture.

This is the true image of you in my heart, this is how you should be.

Together,

sitting together,

and you've advanced.

In my life, I've never seen anything so refined, so unfettered, so free."

San'er's tears were a bit unrefined.

If the same words were spoken by Si Niang, the effect would undoubtedly be different.

A'ming straightened his sleeves, stood a little taller,

and said:

"Master, now the problem is, we're moving out tonight, and we may not have time to study how… how to improve ourselves."

There was no time to study how to lick boots.

Think about how difficult it was to succeed last time.

It was basically one level harder than the last, and Blind, the strategist, wasn't around. What could they do to achieve results and succeed in just a few hours?

If they couldn't level up everyone before the assassination,

well,

it would be like taking a Sixth-Rank martial artist burden and turning him into a Fifth-Rank martial artist burden.

Intercepting the carriage of the Prime Minister's residence,

either,

the guard force is relatively average, and with the Sword Saint also making a move, everyone will kill Zhao Jiulang in a crushing manner.

Or,

this person who has been a Grand Secretary of Great Yan for many years has tough guys protecting him, and a fierce battle may ensue;

But even if it comes to a stalemate, it is impossible for the other side to send a Fifth-Rank expert alone to fight back and forth with the Master in a lively manner;

Especially since this is a group fight, not a one-on-one, and the Master is destined to be the support.

Therefore,

in essence,

if only the Master is promoted,

it's actually useless.

Zheng Fan said:

"It's not that I deliberately suppressed it before. In fact, I only felt something after leaving the court and walking to the palace gate, and my realm was able to loosen.

Water flows when the channel is ready; it sounds simple, but in reality, it's not something I can control."

This was the truth.

For a long time, Marquis Zheng's realm had been stuck at the Sixth Rank, separated from the Fifth Rank by a vast sea.

He himself was anxious. When he was in Fengxin City, he often took a group of people with him to kill bandits and smugglers for experience, but he couldn't see any real results.

Fortunately, on Tianhu Mountain, Lao Tian took him down a mountain road, and his state of mind was able to calm down.

After entering the capital,

looking at the Heavenly Family's infighting, seeing all kinds of beings, seeing the sides and scenes presented by a country in the midst of change;

Because, in essence, in the struggle for the throne, he was a bystander in it, so he could see it more clearly and feel it more delicately.

This state of mind suddenly became vast.

Of course, there was one untruth in the "truth" above;

That is, the true loosening of the realm was not outside the palace gate, but when he first sat completely on the dragon chair in the midst of that misty smoke.

At this time,

Fan Li scratched his head,

and said:

"I think it's simple. The master goes to assassinate with us. We rush to the front, and the master watches us from behind. When one of us is about to be killed, we can probably advance."

Xue San blinked, A'ming stroked his chin, and Si Niang looked at Fan Li.

Fan Li said a little embarrassedly:

"Remember to shout out before you can't beat them and are about to be killed, so that the master doesn't fail to notice you and you're killed.

You have to shout while fighting,

Master,

look at me,

I'm so powerful,

I'm about to die!"

Fan Li really shouted it out.

Xue San breathed a sigh of relief and said:

"Why does it feel so clichéd?"

A'ming said: "A classic routine in hot-blooded manga, exploding with cosmic power before being beaten to death."

Si Niang crossed her arms,

and said:

"But what can't be denied is that A'li's suggestion is actually a bit reliable."

……

"Cough cough…"

Inside the imperial study, Zhao Jiulang coughed twice.

Wei Zhonghe offered tea, Zhao Jiulang lowered his head, took two sips of hot tea, and then looked at Ji Chengjue sitting at the head of the table and continued:

"The current situation is not at the point where we must break to build anew. Politics and military affairs both need a period of time to缓和, as long as the central government is not in chaos, there will be no major chaos in the localities. If Yan is not in chaos, then Jin cannot be in chaos either.

After stabilizing the situation, we can take our time."

"The Grand Secretary is experienced in planning for the country, and I deeply agree."

"Next is the state funeral and Your Majesty's ancestral temple sacrifice, which will be exhausting both physically and mentally. Please take good care of your health, Your Majesty, and do not worry too much. You must know that Your Majesty is now carrying the Great Yan's state on your shoulders."

"The Grand Secretary is the same, you must take good care of your body. I and the officials cannot do without the Grand Secretary."

"Your Majesty is too kind. I am grateful for the late Emperor's appreciation and was fortunate enough to be promoted by Heaven's favor. I should do my best to serve my Great Yan and Your Majesty.

To tell you the truth, I feel that it was inappropriate for Your Majesty not to let me read out the edict of self-reproach today. The people of Great Yan are already exhausted, and they must see some hope.

But I agree with what Your Majesty said, the late Emperor's merits will last for thousands of years."

"It's not that I don't understand the rules of this edict of self-reproach, but I really can't find any faults in my father, and it's not because I'm covering up for the deceased."

"Yes, yes, I understand."

"I'm tired, I need to rest."

Zhao Jiulang smiled and stood up, saying:

"Your Majesty, please take care of your body. I will take my leave."

"Okay."

Zhao Jiulang stood up and walked out of the imperial study.

Wei Zhonghe sent off the Grand Secretary as usual.

Then,

Wei Zhonghe returned to the imperial study and saw His Majesty sitting there eating the pastries that the imperial kitchen had sent over earlier. He leaned over and whispered:

"Your Majesty, tomorrow you can let Eunuch Zhang come to the imperial study to serve you. This servant will stand at the door and be ready to obey orders at any time."

Ji Chengjue clapped his hands,

and said;

"No need, he can take care of Sisi and the children in the harem now. Wei Zhonghe, you are an old man left to me by my father, and I am not the kind of person who likes to be long-winded;

In the past, I was in the palace, thinking about two things all day long, one was the affairs of the Ministry of Revenue, and the other was the affairs of the palace;

Now,

I'm sitting here, and what I think about every day must be the affairs of the state. He's not as good as you."

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for the praise."

"When I really don't like you one day, I will naturally tell you personally. No matter what, you, Wei Zhonghe, deserve this face."

"This servant will definitely repay Your Majesty's trust with all my heart!"

"Get up, by the way, has Li Liangshen entered the capital?"

"I received a report from below earlier that General Li has already entered the capital. He should be entering the palace soon."

"The Grand Secretary should be returning to the cabinet, right?"

"Yes, Your Majesty, according to common sense, the Grand Secretary should first handle government affairs in the cabinet before leaving work."

"As for this Li Liangshen, I won't see him for now. You pass on an order on my behalf and distribute the rewards first."

"Yes, this servant obeys the order."

"In addition, knead the time well, let him cool off for a while first. After announcing the decree, you accompany him out of the palace and make sure he meets the Grand Secretary who is leaving work."

As Ji Chengjue spoke, he gently pinched the pastry with his fingers,

and said:

"You have to find a good reason. You can ask him on my behalf if he wants to go to Yinlang County in the south, hinting that I intend to have him lead his troops to the south to replace my eldest brother.

Li Liangshen has been guarding the capital for several years, and he must have been suffocated long ago.

After you hint, if you meet the Grand Secretary on the road, he will definitely think about taking the Grand Secretary's route again. Forget it, when you hint in advance, just say that if the Grand Secretary agrees, I can let him go after the state funeral and let my eldest brother come back to take charge of the capital's garrison."

Wei Zhonghe immediately said:

"This servant understands."

Tonight,

the secret agents from the Secret Spy Division and Lu Bing's people who were originally arranged to protect the Grand Secretary will be withdrawn.

Now, arranging Li Liangshen in, is also appropriate.

"Your Majesty is wise."

"Oh, this is also wise?" Ji Chengjue smiled.

"Your Majesty wants to protect the Grand Secretary in this way, without offending Lord Pingxi."

"Can he be protected? There, there's the Sword Saint. Although Li Liangshen is also one of the Four Great Swordsmen, I still think he's a lot weaker than the current Sword Saint of Jin.

I don't understand kung fu, Wei Zhonghe, tell me about it."

"Your Majesty, this servant is a Qi Refiner and doesn't really know much about the outside world. Moreover, it's difficult to see the depth of their realm specifically."

"Can't you give me a definite answer?"

"This servant dares to guess that the Sword Saint may be stronger now."

"Then what's so wise about it? Isn't it still not protected."

"Your Majesty's actions take care of both sides. After the Grand Secretary leaves work, Li Liangshen will definitely walk with the Grand Secretary in order to go to the border. Either, Li Liangshen protects the Grand Secretary.

After all, Lord Pingxi is not someone who doesn't know how to advance or retreat. What happened today is just this one time. If he wants to mess around again next time, no one will allow him to continue to act recklessly.

And if he can't protect him,

how can a real expert take action without leaving definite traces.

The gap between the North and South armies is actually opened here.

Your Majesty is wise."

Ji Chengjue picked up a purple sweet potato cake and brought it to Eunuch Wei's mouth;

Eunuch Wei opened his mouth and ate it.

Ji Chengjue clapped his hands,

and said;

"You really don't know or have you really forgotten that on the night of my wedding, this Li Liangshen and the Seventh Uncle beside that crazy woman almost took my life.

It's highly likely,

that the Zheng surname wants to avenge the Jingnan Hou's wife,

Okay, then,

one thing doesn't require two masters,

avenge me for this revenge as well."

Wei Zhonghe: "Uh…"

"Therefore, why have there been more fatuous emperors or mediocre emperors throughout history, because what they say, because they have already stood at the highest point, and no one can tell them the truth anymore."

"Your Majesty, this servant…"

Ji Chengjue smiled,

and said:

"Get up, get up, don't kneel at every turn. You can be considered to have watched me grow up, haven't you? I am very different from my father. My father was a bit dull, but I, may talk a bit more. Just listen and don't think too much."

"This servant understands, this servant knows."

"Okay."

Ji Chengjue picked up the tea in front of him,

and said:

"The tea is cold."

"This servant will immediately…"

Ji Chengjue turned his face and glanced at Wei Zhonghe again. At the same time, the lid of the cup was lifted, and the heat was still rising. Where was it cold?

"I'm worried that as soon as my father leaves, something will happen to the Grand Secretary, and outsiders will think that I'm walking away from the tea too quickly?" (a metaphor for abandoning someone after they lose power)

Wei Zhonghe didn't speak this time, just smiled.

"It's a pity, it's a pity, forget it, forget it, let it be full of ups and downs, let there be more things; this court, can't be in great chaos.

Waiting for the news from the western desert after the war begins,

I will add a layer of military merit to myself, to quell the barbarian royal court.

This position, even if it's really stable.

Let it be chaotic, it won't be chaotic to the sky.

Raising it up can better sort and select it, which saves some effort and allows us to see it more clearly."

After taking a sip of tea,

Ji Chengjue put the teacup back,

and murmured:

"A Lord Pingxi, to exchange for a current Grand Secretary, can this deal be done? It can be done, it's worth it, it's not a loss, but a profit.

What the Grand Secretary said to me before was governing a big country is like cooking a small fish, but I think that governing a country is the same as doing business. It is said that merchants value profit, but they don't know that real merchants know better how to cast a long line to catch a big fish."

"Your Majesty is wise."

"The situation is like this, and that's it. I think if the Grand Secretary really goes to find my father today, he will be able to understand me and forgive me.

After all, he, like my father, likes to have people sacrifice for grand plans;

Now,

I'm doing the same, which can be considered that they have successors, haha."

"Your Majesty…"

"Okay, that's it for today. I won't watch tonight's play. There are too many things to do, and watching too much gives me a headache."

"This servant will order the carriage to be prepared."

"No need, today, I'll be staying here."

There is a small bedroom in the inner hall of the imperial study. The late Emperor often stayed here to work overtime to review memorials, and then went to court after waking up. Apart from the days of recuperating in the back garden, the late Emperor stayed here more often than in the harem during his reign.

Ji Chengjue walked into the inner bedroom,

and sat directly on the bed.

He waved to Wei Zhonghe, and after Wei Zhonghe retreated, he lay directly on the bed.

His eyes were open,

looking above,

and then closed his eyes.

When he exhaled,

he seemed to hear a second breath.

A smile appeared on the corner of Ji Chengjue's mouth,

as if at this moment,

there was still a person lying next to him, who, like himself, had finished today's fatigue and was resting on this bed.

"Old thing, I'm coming to dream about you."

————

Unfortunately, my condition is very poor today. Sitting in front of the computer, I just can't find the state, not because the plot is stuck, but purely because of the emotional emptiness.

There will be no second update today, and I will make up for it all tomorrow. Hold everyone tight.