But it was said that when Wang Baoren arrived at Zhanyuan, the seventh prince Zhu Hejian also came out of the garden to greet him in person with a grand attitude.
In order to win Wang Baoren's full support, Zhu Hejian naturally wanted to give Wang Baoren face.
But what Wang Baoren wants to get is not just as simple as "face".
After exchanging a few polite greetings, Zhu Hejian took Wang Baoren to Zhanyuan Study Room for a secret discussion.
After Wang Baoren took his seat, he directly stepped over and dismissed all the attendants in the study. Then he looked at Zhu Hejian with a smile and asked: "His Royal Highness the Seventh Prince has recently walked from behind the scenes to the stage. Not only has he received attention and pursuit from all parties,
At the same time, we have also been plotted and targeted by all parties... It’s not pleasant to feel like a big tree attracting wind, right?”
Seeing Wang Baoren being so straight to the point, Zhu Hejian also smiled bitterly and shook his head: "It's not just uncomfortable? It's like sitting on pins and needles! It's like a thorn in the back! I won't hide it from you. I used to be behind the scenes, always watching the prince's third brother. He was always everywhere when he was doing things.
Hitting a wall and losing ground, I actually felt a little dissatisfied in my heart. I just felt that the third brother of the prince was too reckless. As long as he was a little more tactful, a lot of trouble could be avoided... But now I realize that once you stand in this crowd of people,
The position that attracts attention is that all kinds of troubles come to you, and there is no room for escape!"
Having said this, Zhu Hejian looked at Wang Baoren sincerely and begged: "To be honest, this junior is already very worried and doesn't know what to do! The central government has not yet issued a decree to formally take back power from the Six Ministries of Nanjing, so
The younger generation still needs to stay in Nanjing and sit in charge, so he cannot sit idly by and ignore the conflicts between the wealthy gentry and the eunuchs of Huangzhuang in the territory!
But this matter is too difficult. It seems that the juniors have only two choices left, either to continue to remain neutral and muddy, and then make themselves inhumane inside and out, or to favor one party, and then suffer the consequences of the other party.
The hostility and resentment, no matter what, can't be alone... Therefore, the junior has long been looking forward to your guidance, Master Wang! Without Taishi Wang's help, the junior will definitely be unable to do what he wants, and he will definitely not be able to handle such a complicated situation!"
Zhu Hejian did not accuse Wang Baoren of sitting on the sidelines some time ago. Instead, he just complained and showed weakness, emphasizing that he could not do without Wang Baoren's support, as if he had no independent opinion.
In fact, Zhu Hejian's statement has three meanings.
The first is to emphasize Wang Baoren's importance to him in order to win Wang Baoren's favor and favor. The second is to hope that Wang Baoren will be confident and take the opportunity to put forward conditions to himself so that both parties can conclude a deal. The third is to hint that Wang Baoren, the crown prince and grand master,
He failed to fulfill his responsibilities and allowed himself, the future crown prince, to fall into trouble.
Of course Wang Baoren understood Zhu Hejian's hint and responded immediately, taking the opportunity to put forward his own conditions.
Wang Baoren nodded gently with a serious expression, and then said slowly: "Just two days ago, news came from the capital that His Majesty had placed His Highness the Crown Prince under house arrest, and had placed His Highness the Crown Prince under house arrest in the Zongren Mansion.
It is not the Crown Prince's East Palace, and I have been unwilling to summon His Highness the Crown Prince to listen to his explanation... Obviously, it is inevitable to abolish the Crown Prince. Your Highness, you will most likely be the next Crown Prince! As for me... As a
The Crown Prince and Grand Master should naturally help His Highness!"
At this point, Wang Baoren suddenly changed the topic and said: "Speaking of which, before the Tang Dynasty, the three official positions of the Crown Prince, the Crown Prince, the Crown Prince, and the Crown Prince's Tutor were always collectively called the 'Three Prince Masters'.
For those who have a teacher-student relationship with the prince and prince, when the emperor appoints the prince and Taishi, the prince and prince also need to pay homage to the prince and Taishi in public under the witness of hundreds of officials... But since the Tang Dynasty, the prince and Taishi have become
He has taken a purely fictitious position. Although he still has the responsibility of assisting the crown prince, he only has the responsibility of assisting the left. The relationship between the two parties is no longer a true teacher-student relationship, so it is inevitable that the relationship is somewhat alienated..."
Obviously, Wang Baoren's words were not out of place, but meant something.
What he meant was that he wanted Zhu Hejian to pay homage to him in public, so that he and Zhu Hejian could have a real teacher-student relationship.
In this era, the three cardinal principles and the five constant principles are the supreme principles that people adhere to. If a disciple disobeys the teacher's orders even slightly, it is already a treason. If there is still hostility to the teacher and the behavior of falling out with the teacher, he will become a street rat that everyone calls for beating.
.
Therefore, Wang Baoren wanted to take the opportunity to completely finalize the teacher-student relationship between him and Zhu Hejian, so that everyone in the world would know that he was Zhu Hejian's mentor.
Under such circumstances, even if Zhu Hejian is as described by Zhou Shangjing as a ruthless, vicious, and extreme person, he would never dare to treat Wang Baoren as an abandoned son, let alone be merciless to Wang Baoren.
The interests of both parties will also be permanently bound together.
Not to mention that Zhu Hejian only has the opportunity to take over the reserve position now. Even if he successfully inherits the throne in the future, in the name of this teacher-student relationship, he will never dare to risk the disapproval of the world and deliberately target Wang Baoren.
Wang Baoren believed that he had the ability to control Zhu Hejian, and it was not an exaggeration. He had prepared several methods in advance, and taking the opportunity to finalize the teacher-student relationship and bind the interests of both parties was one of Wang Baoren's methods.
After understanding Wang Baoren's conditions, a glint flashed in Zhu Hejian's eyes, and he quickly considered the pros and cons.
In fact, one of the conditions Zhu Hejian prepared for Wang Baoren was to thoroughly implement the teacher-student relationship between the two parties.
But Zhu Hejian still doesn't know whether Wang Baoren is worth doing this!
If Wang Baoren could help him get through the current predicament smoothly and allow him to take over the throne smoothly, Zhu Hejian would be willing to become his disciple. However, Wang Baoren has not yet shown relevant abilities, so Zhu Hejian wanted to test Wang Baoren to see what else he had.
trump card.
Thinking of this, Zhu Hejian was about to say something when he suddenly heard Guo Shouzhong's voice outside the study.
"Your Highness, I have something important to report to you."
Zhu Hejian was slightly startled, but soon guessed that the task he had assigned to Guo Shouzhong must have come to fruition.
After thinking for a moment, Zhu Hejian called: "Come in and report... Master Wang is here. He is not an outsider. If you have anything, just report it directly."
Zhu Hejian believed that Guo Shouzhong must have properly completed the tasks assigned to him, and Huo Zhengyuan must have witnessed the heavy casualties of those around him and was frightened to the point of splitting his liver and gallbladder.
Although he was a little surprised that Guo Shouzhong completed the task so quickly, Guo Shouzhong has completed similar tasks many times in recent years, so there will never be any surprises.
Huo Zhengyuan almost had an accident, and Wang Baoren would receive the news sooner or later. Therefore, Zhu Hejian did not intend to hide the matter from Wang Baoren. Instead, he took the opportunity to show his unreserved sincerity to Wang Baoren, and he could also delay the time and let himself take the opportunity to sort it out.
Get some ideas.
At the same time, Zhu Hejian also understood Guo Shouzhong's caution, and believed that Guo Shouzhong must be very clear about what he could and could not say in front of Wang Baoren.
Sure enough, after hearing Zhu Hejian's call, Guo Shouzhong immediately pushed the door open, glanced at Wang Baoren from the corner of his eye, and reported softly: "Your Highness, I just received news that something happened not long ago near the Confucius Temple on the bank of the Qinhuai River.
An accident occurred when a mule cart suddenly lost control and crashed into passers-by, causing panic among the people nearby. As the people scrambled to avoid it, another trampling accident occurred, causing more than 30 injuries.
Many people were killed or injured."
Zhu Hejian immediately frowned and said: "Immediately order the Nanjing government to investigate the cause of the accident, urge them to rescue the injured as soon as possible, and do their best to appease the people."
After saying that, Zhu Hejian waved at Guo Shouzhong, seeming to think that the matter was over.
But Guo Shouzhong did not leave and continued to report: "Your Highness, this matter was originally just a small matter, but... the southeast patrol envoy, bachelor Huo Zhengyuan, happened to be dining in a nearby restaurant at the time, and was affected by this matter...
…”
Zhu Hejian couldn't help but change his expression, and immediately turned around and asked, "Is Academician Huo not injured?"
Guo Shouzhong replied: "Your Highness, don't worry, Academician Huo was not injured, but several of his followers suffered heavy casualties."
Zhu Hejian seemed to be a little relieved and nodded: "Since Academician Huo is fine, it is a great blessing among misfortunes... I will take time to summon Academician Huo tomorrow and personally comfort him and calm his shock."
Then, Zhu Hejian waved again, but Guo Shouzhong did not stop again this time. After bowing, he turned around and left the study.
On the other side, after hearing the conversation between Zhu Hejian and Guo Shouzhong, Wang Baoren's eyes flashed continuously.
Before meeting and talking with Zhou Shangjing, Wang Baoren might have been willing to believe that what Guo Shouzhong just reported was just an accident.
But after Zhou Shangjing's warning, Wang Baoren was a smart man, so he immediately became suspicious and couldn't help but secretly speculate on Zhu Hejian's role in this matter.
After Guo Shouzhong left the study, Wang Baoren did not wait for Zhu Hejian to respond to the conditions he had hinted before. He suddenly changed the subject again and asked with a smile: "By the way, before I met His Highness the Seventh Prince, I went to the East Garden.
I visited Zhou Shoufu... Isn't His Highness the Seventh Prince curious about how I met Zhou Shoufu?"
Zhu Hejian was stunned and didn't understand why Wang Baoren mentioned this matter first without waiting for him to ask. However, he was indeed curious about the meeting between Wang Baoren and Zhou Shangjing, and he did not have to directly respond to Wang Baoren's conditions.
So, Zhu Hejian nodded repeatedly and asked: "I want to ask Grand Master Wang, but I don't know what is the physical condition of Zhou Shoufu? Now there are rumors from all walks of life in Nanjing that his condition is serious, and I have been turned away even when I visited him several times in the past few days.
, I am anxious because of this matter."
Wang Baoren smiled half-heartedly and said: "Zhou Shoufu's physical condition is indeed very serious as rumored, and after I met Zhou Shangjing, they mainly exchanged their views on His Highness the Seventh Prince... But Zhou Shoufu's views on His Highness