On the way back, Duan Qing kept holding out his hand to Ma Er.
Ma Er reluctantly took out some broken silver and threw it to Duan Qing while cursing.
Qin Dewei asked inexplicably: "What's wrong with you?"
Duan Qing replied: "I made a bet with Ma Er, saying that Ren Xiaoyi must have an ulterior motive. Ma Er is just willing to admit defeat."
Qin Dewei said casually: "What does it mean to have an ulterior motive?"
Ma Er, who had lost the money, said dejectedly: "Any purpose other than going to bed and asking for money is called an ulterior purpose!"
Qin Dewei asked again: "Then how did you see that she had an ulterior motive?"
It was Duan Qing who replied: "If there was no ulterior motive, how come we happened to meet little brother Xu? How could it be such a coincidence?"
Qin Dewei did not return to his residence, but went directly to the residence of Xia Yan, the Minister of Rites.
When he arrived at the gate, he asked the gatekeeper to report inside. Not long after, a servant came over and led Qin Dewei inside.
On the corridor, the servant chatted with Qin Dewei and said, "Do friends of Qin recognize the son of Lord Yin Yan of Yingtian Mansion?"
"I understand, what's wrong?" Qin Dewei was puzzled as to why the servant suddenly mentioned Yan Shifan.
The servant added: "Young Master Yan came just now and was talking to me in the study. Since you recognize Mr. Yan, you don't need to report separately, just go in directly."
Although Qin Dewei didn't expect it, he wouldn't be too surprised.
He could run to Xia Mansion, and so could Yan Shifan. They were also from Jiangxi Province, so Yan Shifan had no problem calling Xia Yan uncle.
But from another perspective, with Yan Shifan's mind, if he encountered something like today, he would definitely think of reporting it to Xia Yan, which would be equivalent to robbing him of his own job!
Those who step on horses really need to be dealt with!
Putting aside his distracted thoughts, Qin Dewei walked into the study. Sure enough, he saw Master Xia sitting steadily outside the study, with Yan Shifan standing beside him.
After Qin Dewei saluted, Xia Yan said with a smile: "What a coincidence today, you met by chance in Haidian. I already know everything."
In front of Xia Yan, Yan Shifan seemed to be more confident and said to Xia Yan: "Speaking of today's matter, Shibo should exercise more restraint on Qin Dewei and not let him do anything he wants."
"Oh?" Xia Yan looked at Yan Shifan doubtfully, but Qin Dewei said nothing and quietly watched Yan Shifan's performance.
Yan Shifan continued: "Qin Dewei is a man who has a lot of cleverness but no great wisdom. He has no plan when things happen and just does whatever he wants!
Therefore, his behavior is very unprofessional, he always makes random decisions, does not form a pattern, and in fact destroys opportunities!"
Xia Yan asked in surprise: "Why did you say that?"
Yan Shifan said plausibly: "For example, today's gathering of the same year in the eighth year of Jiajing's reign, I wanted to lurk there and get a glimpse of its context.
Then find the right opportunity, maybe you can take the opportunity to win over the Eight Talents of Jiajing, and help Shibo.
Regardless of whether you can succeed or not, having this kind of thinking is the behavior a professional should have."
Xia Yan was thoughtful, as if thinking about this possibility.
Yan Shifan criticized: "But when Qin Dewei left, he knew how to criticize people, insult people randomly, and disrupt the party to pieces!
As a result, I couldn't do my best, and I lost this opportunity to win over the Eight Talents of Jiajing."
Yan Shifan came to Xia Yan not only to talk about today's affairs, but mainly because he couldn't stand idle in the Imperial College anymore and wanted to find a yamen to go out to do things in the prison and accumulate qualifications.
He belittled Qin Dewei and promoted himself for this purpose. It was tantamount to hinting to Xia Yan that he could also be a helper and be better than Qin Dewei!
Xia Yan couldn't help but laugh. Although Yan Shifan's remarks were a bit biased, he still wanted to hear how Qin Dewei responded.
Then I heard Qin Dewei say: "You, Yan Shifan, are as professional as you are, as many as you can display, and as many as you are in layout!"
Xia Yan: ""
Yan Shifan was furious, pointed at Qin Dewei, and said to Xia Yan: "Shibo, look at how rogue he is!"
Xia Yan scolded: "Qin Sheng, please speak up!"
Qin Dewei continued: "The Eight Talents of Jiajing are all heads or officials of the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of Husbandry, the Ministry of Rites, and the Ministry of War, and one of them is a censor!
Didn't you, Yan Shifan, notice that all these eight people hold high-ranking and important positions with great potential for advancement, and there is not even a single idle official or a low-ranking official!
Among the six ministries, there are not even the lowest-level criminal ministries and industrial ministries! What does this mean?"
Yan Shifan was about to open his mouth to speak, but was rudely interrupted by Qin Dewei: "With your situation, Yan Shifan, of course you don't understand!
This situation shows that the Eight Talents of Jiajing are not only a literary group, but also a group with political ambitions!
They are just forming a party in the name of literary alliance!
Moreover, their ambitions are so great that they don’t even accept low-end people to join their group, only the most elite people!”
Yan Shifan opened his mouth to say something again, but Qin Dewei interrupted him with a rough wave of his hand, and then asked: "Is this a combination you want to win over? You can do anything!"
Yan Shifan finally seized the opportunity and slandered him: "It's not that I want to win over them, but that I want to win over them on behalf of Shibo!"
Doesn't it mean that with Shibo's esteemed position, there is no chance for them to attach themselves to him? Or do you think Shibo's reputation is not enough?"
Qin Dewei bowed his hand to Xia Yan and said a rainbow fart: "It's because Uncle Zong is so good that it's impossible to win them over!
The Eight Talents of Jiajing as a whole may be able to rely on the great scholar Zhai Luan, or even the great scholar Li Shi.
But it is impossible for them to follow Zhang Shoufu, Da Zongbo and Huo Tao! You Yan Shifan cannot understand this, and you still dare to claim to be professional, which is ridiculous."
What are the characteristics of the three great scholars, Fang Xianfu, Li Shi, and Zhai Luan? The common characteristic is that they are bastards, ah no, that is called inaction and humility.
What are the characteristics of the chief assistants Zhang Fujing, Xia Yan, and Huo Tao? The common characteristic is that they seize power with force, ah no, this is called the courage to take responsibility and the courage to do things.
So what Qin Dewei means is that the Eight Talents of Jiajing are ambitious themselves and will not take refuge in powerful people and become mere pawns with no autonomy.
You Yan Shifan actually said that you wanted to win over the Eight Talents of Jiajing for Master Xia. This is simply the most unprofessional behavior.
Yan Shifan started to sweat. He had to calm down. What should he say now?
Qin Dewei asked Xia Yan again: "Yan Shifan said he was going to lurk at today's gathering and to win over the Eight Talents of Jiajing. Did he inform the boss in advance?"
Xia Yan shook his head and said nonchalantly: "Why bother telling us in advance about such a trivial matter."
Qin Dewei sneered and said, "Wansheng doesn't think so. After all, this gathering was initiated and hosted by Wang Xiwen of the Criminal Division, and Wang Shiyi is a fellow student of Huo Tao.
If Yan Shifan had informed the boss in advance, it can be assumed that he went undercover.
If Yan Shifan did it without informing him in advance, that would be another matter.
Who can be sure whether Yan Shifan went undercover or was looking for an opportunity to rebel and join others?"
Wucao! Yan Shifan was a little panicked, but he was not afraid that Xia Yan would believe Qin Dewei's slander.
But he discovered that even if he offered slanderous words to the big boss, he could not defeat Qin Dewei! Is it possible for a villain to be so involved these days?
Xia Yan quickly put out the fire: "Qin Sheng, don't be suspicious! Yan Shifan has no such intention!"
Qin Dewei continued to sneer: "Even if you don't mean it, but your behavior is so suspicious, it is a huge internal danger!
Now is a critical moment, so it would be bad to let such an unprofessional person mess around, right?"
Xia Yan said helplessly to Yan Shifan: "The water in the court this year is too deep, and it is beyond the control of a prison student.
My nephew, it’s better not to think about the affairs of the Imperial College. Go back to the Imperial College and study peacefully. Don’t come out if you have nothing to do. We’ll talk about everything after this year.”
Yan Shifan was extremely depressed. He wanted to point at Qin Dewei and ask, can a fifteen-year-old scholar master it? Isn't he just good at quarreling and bitching?
