"The first plan is to divide the enemy's heart and make the enemy tired; the second plan is to hurt the enemy's strength and weaken the enemy's vitality; the third plan is to kill the enemy and damage the enemy's foundation. This is called a chain plan. (The fastest updated novel website)"
………
Lu Chunxiao got the solution from Xiao Wenruan, felt that it was foolproof, and left happily.
However, Lu Chunxiao did not know that after he left, Xiao Wenruan, who originally looked tired and dull, gradually became serious.
Xiao Wenruan has been fighting with Zhou Shangjing all his life, and he knows Zhou Shangjing's scheming methods best.
This impeachment letter that suddenly appeared was just a small trick, but the timing was just right. It actually put the prince and his party in a dilemma. No matter what choice they made, it would be harmful rather than beneficial. Its cleverness, concealment, and cruelty can kill people invisible.
, combined with the situation in the temple these days, Xiao Wenruan has already seen the shadow of Zhou Shangjing in it.
Although this matter seemed to be solved easily by Xiao Wenruan, Xiao Wenruan knew better that Zhou Shangjing's scheming methods were not limited to this. Once he wanted to plot against someone, his plans and traps would definitely be a series of attacks.
With one ring, it is impossible to guard against, and it is pressing harder every step of the way.
Sitting in the Grand Master's chair, Xiao Wenruan was silent for a long time. Suddenly he sighed softly and murmured to himself: "It seems that with the Crown Prince's increasing momentum and His Majesty's support, Zhou Shangjing finally took action. I was the one from the beginning.
Worried about this, he wanted to return to his hometown and let He Ming take over the position of the Crown Prince. With He Ming's scheming, the city government and Zhou Shangjing were evenly matched. But he didn't expect that He Ming hadn't come yet, and Zhou Shangjing
I can’t wait to take action.”
"...Zhou Shangjing, Zhou Shangjing, you have already become the most powerful person in the world, and you are already old. Although you are a powerful minister, your merits outweigh your faults in both the emperor and the dynasty. From now on, you will retire after your achievements. You will be able to pursue your posthumous title in the end. And you can
Isn't it just right to be the descendant of Yu Yin? Why are you still not satisfied? Do you still want to continue the power of the old Zhou family, or even control the future prince?..."
With another sigh, Xiao Wenruan continued to whisper to himself: "However, judging from Zhou Shangjing's methods, this is probably just the beginning. Maybe it's just a trial. I have been fighting with Zhou Shangjing for a lifetime.
I am always defeated but never victorious. I have long been tired of it. But I did not expect that when I am approaching old age and dying, I will still be unable to escape. Not only will I not be able to relax, but I will have to fight you again. That’s all. I am still the prince and grand master after all.
Before taking office, we cannot allow the prince to be framed. However, this time, I don’t want to lose again."
After making up his mind, Xiao Wenruan, who was old and had always been weak, suddenly seemed to be much more energetic.
Holding on to the armrest next to the Grand Master's chair, Xiao Wenruan stood up with some difficulty, and then called: "Here comes someone."
Within a moment, someone from the Xiao Mansion pushed open the door and walked in, lowering his head and asking, "Master, what do you have to say?"
Xiao Wenruan did not answer immediately. Instead, he came to the desk, wrote a quick note, stuffed it into an envelope, and then said slowly: "Send someone to take my name card and hurry up."
, go to Hunan to see if that old guy He Ming has left. If he hasn’t left yet, give him this letter and urge him to come to Beijing as soon as possible."
As he spoke, a trace of doubt flashed in Xiao Wenruan's eyes.
As early as four months ago, he began to contact He Ming, asking him to come to Beijing to take over the position of Prince Grand Master. Calculating the time, He Ming should have come to Beijing long ago, but these days, Xiao Wenruan has not received the news.
any news.
Although he has made up his mind to fight Zhou Shangjing again, Xiao Wenruan has no confidence in his past performance. If He Ming, who is proficient in the emperor's mind, is there to help him, the situation will be different.
After the servant respectfully took the secret letter, a trace of hesitation flashed across Xiao Wenruan's face, but he finally spoke and continued to give instructions: "Also, send someone to Laojun Temple in the southern suburbs of the capital, and ask the Taoist priest there to serve as the master for me.
Refining two golden elixirs and taking them."
Hearing Xiao Wenruan's instructions, the man trembled, raised his head, his face was full of surprise, and subconsciously stopped him: "Master, do you want to continue taking the golden elixir? How is this possible? Such a thing as the golden elixir.
, although you will be more energetic after taking it, it will cause external excess and internal deficiency, which will hurt your skin, sir, you are not unaware of it."
Xiao Wenruan has believed in Taoist health care since he was over sixty years old, and often went to Taoist priests to refine golden elixirs and take them. However, now that he has learned a lesson, he has long understood that the so-called "golden elixirs" are all lies.
Damn, how can people take elixirs made from gold, mercury and other substances? Especially the mercury is highly poisonous!
As the person said, after taking the golden elixir, although you can be energetic for a while, and even your mind will be much clearer, it will only overdraw your vitality due to external excess and internal deficiency. If you are younger and stronger, you can take the "golden elixir"
"There are advantages and disadvantages, at least there is still energy to overdraw, but at Xiao Wenruan's age, the energy has long been exhausted, and the "golden elixir" is no different from suicide poison.
After listening to the servant's advice, Xiao Wenruan was silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled, with a little carefreeness, and said slowly: "At my age, it's already good to be 'externally prosperous', so why bother?"
Is there any 'internal deficiency'? What difference does it make whether you live for another three years or for one more year?"
After a pause, Xiao Wenruan said again: "I don't know when my final time will be, but I understand that I am really old, my energy is low, and my brain is no longer as clear and sharp as it used to be. Many things have become unclear.
I don’t understand. If this continues, who will be that person’s opponent? Although the golden elixir is extremely poisonous to me, as long as it can make me more energetic and clear my mind,
As long as I can stay in a stalemate with that person for a while and finally protect the prince, no matter what the cost, I will admit it."
The servants did not understand what Xiao Wenruan said, but they could hear the determination in Xiao Wenruan's words.
Therefore, after the servant was silent for a moment, he finally gritted his teeth and nodded: "Master, I understand. I will go and make arrangements for you right now."
Looking at the servant's leaving figure, Xiao Wenruan returned to the Taishi chair and sat down. His face looked tired, his eyes were slightly closed, and he murmured: "I'm old. I'm really old. I'm already so old just by doing such a few things.
After exhausting all my energy, if God can give me a few more years, why should I rely on poisons like golden elixir? Things in the world are not as good as you want them to be. Ten times out of ten, that’s really the case..."
The voice is getting lower and lower.
After all these things, Xiao Wenruan really needs to rest.
………
Every move in the capital is always hidden from Zhou Shangjing's eyes.
Including everything in the Xiao Mansion and the Metropolitan Procuratorate.
So. Soon, the news of Lu Chunxiao’s visit to Xiao Wenruan, the news that the Procuratorate rejected the impeachment papers, or the news that the Xiao Mansion sent people to the Laojun Temple in the south of the city to ask for the golden elixir, had all spread. Zhou Shangjing is here.
At this time, Shen Changmao and Huang Yourong had left. Only Zhou Shangjing and Zhou De, the manager of the Zhou Mansion, were left in the study.
Like Xiao Wenruan, Zhou Shangjing was sitting back in the Imperial Master's chair with his eyes slightly closed, listening to Zhou De reporting the news to him. After learning that the impeachment document had been rejected, his expression remained unchanged. It seemed that he had expected it.
But after learning that Xiao Wenruan sent people to Laojun Temple to ask for the golden elixir, Zhou Shangjing suddenly sighed softly and slowly opened his eyes, with a trace of regret flashing across his expression.
Seeing Zhou Shangjing like this, Zhou De couldn't help but be stunned and asked softly: "Master, what's wrong?" "I have been in the temple for many years. There are not many opponents that I can admire, but Xiao Wenruan is one." Zhou Shangjing faintly said. Said: "What I admire about him is none other than his stubbornness and righteousness. Above the temple, various factions are always enemies and friends at times. When there is fighting, there is cooperation. Although I have countless political enemies, I have basically cooperated with them all, just like I have cooperated with Huang Yourong, Shen Changmao, and Zhao Junchen these days."
After a pause, Zhou Shangjing looked a little more emotional, and then said: "But in these years, I have always regarded me as an enemy and have never united with me in private. I am afraid it is this Xiao Wenruan." .When this old guy was young, he had the same temperament as the current prince. In his eyes, loyal ministers are loyal ministers, and powerful ministers are powerful ministers. There is no possibility of union between the two. They always act businesslike. Youyan If you don’t advance, I will be helpless.”
Zhou Desei smiled and said, "You're just a pedantic person."
Zhou Shangjing smiled, nodded and said: "To say that he is pedantic is indeed pedantic, but to say that he is a perfect person is also okay. I once sent my servants to check him, but found that this man has never been an official for decades. He has accepted bribes from the emperor, and has been upright throughout his life. Everything he does is for the king and the country, and he has no shortage of abilities and means. If it weren't for the wrong time when he was born, a person like him, unlike me, would probably be doomed. It is to be remembered for eternity.”
Having said this, Zhou Shangjing sighed again and said: "To be honest, there are really too few people like this. Although I and him are enemies rather than friends, we have always admired him during our fights over the years. If it weren't for his disdain for me, I wouldn't mind becoming friends with him."
Hearing what Zhou Shangjing said, he quite agreed with Xiao Wenruan, but Zhou De did not dare to say anything wrong about Xiao Wenruan, but just lowered his head and waited for Zhou Shangjing's instructions.
However, for some reason today, Zhou Shangjing changed from his normal state and started talking enthusiastically, and said: "This time, Xiao Wenruan's determination is beyond my expectation. In the past few years, he relied on golden elixirs to maintain his health. , I know it. I thought I would force him a few more times this time, leaving him in a hurry. Only after I felt that my energy and mental strength were exhausted, did I think of the refreshing effect of the golden elixir again, but I didn’t expect that he found out that it was after I took action. , he just went to ask for the golden elixir without any pressure. It seems that he has made a lot of determination to fight with me this time."
Having said this, Zhou Shangjing shook his head, as if a sad look flashed across his face, and sighed: "Although Xiao Wenruan is not as scheming as me, he is experienced and discerning. With him protecting the prince, even if he is
, and it can't be accomplished in a short period of time, so he can't stay. It's a pity that there are not many perfect people in this world, and now there is one less."
Then, he saw Zhou Shangjing take a sandalwood box from the side of the desk, put it in his hand and caress it for a long time, then handed it to Zhou De in front of him, and said softly: "There are two golden elixirs that have been prepared for a long time.
After many years, it’s finally time to use it. Zhou De, please send it to Laojun Temple.”
Zhou De's eyes lit up and he understood what Zhou Shangjing meant. He respectfully put the box containing the golden elixir in his hand and said with a smile: "Don't worry, sir, I understand what to do."
Zhou Shangjing didn't seem to want to say anything else. He closed his eyes slightly and waved Zhou De to leave.
………
In this world, many times, the word "determination" is often synonymous with "sacrifice".
But there are two kinds of sacrifice, one is to sacrifice oneself, the other is to sacrifice others.
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ps: Let me sigh, when I was typing, I really couldn’t do without coffee and cigarettes. I heard that people with dependence syndrome are weak-willed people. Thinking about it, I am indeed a failure.