After the fourth year of Yuanyou, Murong Fu finally received a letter from the Ministry of Officials, saying that he had fulfilled his duties and excelled in the evaluation during his tenure as the county commander in Xiping, and that the official family knew that Murong Fu had moved to the right to the post of storyteller in the Chongzheng Palace. As for the Xiping County Order, it was succeeded by Cheng Minzhong of Xiping County, who also had an excellent evaluation. For such an appointment, the princes of the court once again tacitly remained silent, and unanimously agreed that the ministers should not interfere too much in the family affairs of the royal family.

On the contrary, Lu Gongzhu, who had entered a semi-retired state, received the news and ordered someone to call his grandson-in-law Fan Zuyu and give him some advice. Although Murong Fu has a resume as a county magistrate, he is still a newcomer to officialdom compared to Fan Zuyu. Fan Zuyu has always had a good relationship with the Empress Dowager and the official family, so he does not think that Murong Fuhui is a threat to him. At this time, when he heard that Duke Lu was asking him to "be careful" and "beware", he couldn't help but be surprised, and simply asked bluntly: "Grandfather, grandson-in-law heard that this Murong Mingshi almost lost his life due to the matter of the princess of Tang Kingdom. What's wrong? ”

Lu Gong's old face flushed, and after thinking about it again and again, he still felt that it was inconvenient to tell this grandson-in-law, who had always been upright and loyal, about the past of the anti-Shuishuo Party, and only said vaguely: "This person is definitely not a thing in the pool, and he acts like an antelope hanging its horns and is eclectic." In short, you pay a lot of attention. ”

Fan Zuyu was confused when he heard it, and left resignedly. It's just that when I look back at my new colleague, he is a romantic person, elegant in speech, and even more respectful to him, a senior in the rivers and lakes. Fan Zuyu asked himself if he couldn't do nothing, and he called out to the handsome face that had always been smiling and smiling, and gradually got along.

Although the position of storyteller in Chongzheng Hall is close to the water, because it is still the empress dowager who is in charge of the court, it is the real excitement in the court at this time that is still the poetry case of the Chegai Pavilion. In April of the fourth year of the reign of Yuan You, Wu Chuhou, the governor of Hanyang Army, wrote a secret letter to Cai Qu, the former prime minister and leader of the New Party, who had written a poem while visiting Chegai Pavilion in Anzhou, ridiculing the government and slandering the monarch and the ruling ministers. Wu Chuhou's recital was presented to the court, which immediately caused an uproar. The Empress Dowager hated the New Party and Cai Qu, and the members of the Shuo Party headed by Lu Dafang spared no effort to crack down on the New Party, demanding that the Empress Dowager severely punish Cai Qu as an example. However, Fan Chunren, who was in the middle of the matter and knew the affairs of the Privy Council, and Shangshu Zuocheng Wang Cun exonerated Cai Qu, believing that he could no longer sin for his words. Cai Qu's case is so big, Su Shi, as the right minister, naturally can't stay out of the matter, so he went to the secret to play the empress dowager and said: "If the court is guilty of a crime, it will be insufficient for the emperor's filial piety; If the deep crime is confirmed, then the Empress Dowager will be a little tired. It is said that the emperor should be imprisoned and arrested, and the empress dowager will pardon him, and he will be able to achieve both benevolence and filial piety. ”

When the Empress Dowager received Su Shi's advice, she couldn't help crying and laughing. If it weren't for the fact that she knew Su Shi's talent, and even more understood that he had always been brave and loyal and innocent, she was afraid that she would be regarded as a wall grass without assertiveness just by relying on this performance. The confrontation between the Shuo Party and the New Party in the court upset the Empress Dowager, so she came to inquire about her grandson's homework and distracted herself.

That day, it was Murong Fu's turn to be on duty, and he was talking about the story of the three people becoming tigers in "Warring States Policy". Murong Fu said that unlike Fan Zuyu, he rarely mentioned the carving of the Chinese language and characters of the book, but instead commented on the truth in the book. Just because of this, storytelling seems to have an extra friend for the little emperor to read and gossip together, because Murong Fu has only been in office for less than two months, and his attitude towards Murong Fu has become much closer.

As soon as Murong finished reading this volume of "Warring States Policy Wei Ce II", the little emperor couldn't help but sigh: "It's rare that Pang Gong has such foresight, but it's a pity that King Wei Hui is incompetent and ignorant of talents." ”

Murong Fu nodded and said softly: "Of course, this matter is only a sigh of 'fearful words' for the ministers, but it is a lesson of blood and tears for the monarch, and it must not be ignored." ”

As soon as Murong Fu said this, the little emperor couldn't help but "huh", and hurriedly said: "Pang Gong has lost the trust of King Wei and is rarely reused, why does Murong Qing say that this is a loss for the monarch?" ”

Murong Fu smiled lightly and said: "Official, the king of Wei is gullible and trusts the villain's words far from the loyal ministers, and those villains will naturally concoct and slander other ministers when they see this. For a long time, there are only villains and no gentlemen around King Wei, and he is afraid that even the country will die, where is such a loss comparable to Pang Gong's previous history? ”

The little emperor was stunned for a long time, and couldn't help but nod in fear. "The Wei State was finally destroyed at the hands of the Qin State, and it was so...... However, although the king of Wei said that he was gullible, the Qing family also said that everyone had accumulated gold and destroyed their bones......"

"Yes, as a monarch, he should be more discerning, and he should observe his words and deeds to his courtiers, and not be hasty." Murong Fu said casually, "For example, in the future, when the official family gets married, there are courtiers who want to get close to the queen, but he himself took six or seven concubines and gave birth to a bunch of concubines. The official family can know that this person is strict with others and lenient with himself, and others are loyal, and if he is up, he is mostly to invite fame. ”

The little emperor couldn't help but smile when he heard this, and said narrowly: "Then I will give an order to scold him?" ”

"Isn't the official scolding him just not admonishing? It is better to give his wife a command higher than his own rank to shame him. Murong Fu also smiled, "Since the official family knows his temperament, it is just a matter of transferring him to any powerless deputy." ”

The little emperor thought for a moment, and then said: "Since he is a person with the same name, even if he is released, he is afraid that he will make a fuss about abusing the people for the sake of inviting his name, and he should be given a deputy position to cold him." ”

"Official Shengming!" Murong regained his positive color.

"Mourning family, the officials are about to teach you badly!" The Empress Dowager, who had been standing outside the window for an unknown amount of time, was helped by the palace maid at this time, and saw her say to the little emperor with a calm face. "Official, if you rashly meddle in the family affairs of your courtiers, aren't you afraid that others will be famous?"

The little emperor and Murong Fu saw the Empress Dowager coming, and hurriedly stepped forward to give a salute. Before the Empress Dowager could tell her to get up, the little emperor said nonchalantly: "I have a clear conscience, so why am I afraid of people's words?" I am the world's example for the Son of Heaven, and my words and deeds are noticed by the world, since I am inevitably gossiped about, why bother to bear this false name in vain? ”

The Empress Dowager saw that the little emperor was gloomy and weak in the past, but rather a little radiant, and her heart was already secretly happy. She looked at the little emperor silently for a moment, and when she saw that the little emperor was proud and fearless, she couldn't help but show her face. "It's good that the official family can have such a heart!" He turned back to Murong and replied, "Murong Qing, you are attentive!" Looking at her pleasant appearance, where is there any dissatisfaction with Murong Fu's "bad teaching" of the little emperor?

Murong Fu said that he didn't dare, and accompanied the Empress Dowager into the palace. The Empress Dowager sat down, recalling that Murong Fu had just taught the little emperor to employ people, and she already understood that compared to his naïve teacher, Murong Fu's methods were much older. She was worried about Cai Qu's case, and when she saw Murong Fu at this time, she couldn't help but ask: "Cai Qu's case, I don't know what Murong Qing thinks?" ”

Murong Fu couldn't help but be stunned when he heard this, his official position was low, and he never expected that the Empress Dowager would come to ask him for his opinion. What does Murong Fu think about the Chegaiting case? It is nothing more than a literary prison, chasing after the wind and catching shadows, the villain falls into the well and offers the Shuo Party, and the Shuo Party is in the middle of the Huai to eliminate dissidents. However, can Murong Fu speak for Cai Qu? Apparently not. In terms of personal vendettas, the Wutai poetry case was Cai Qu's fueling and almost killing Su Shi; On politics, the old lady in front of me who is in menopause has always hated the new party. Because of this, Murong Fu finally only stiffened his neck and said: "Empress Dowager, Cai Zhizheng and his people framed the minister with a private law, and what he did in the past was a disloyal and unrighteous person. Chenshi was reluctant to speak for him. ”

As soon as Murong Fu's words came out, the Empress Dowager couldn't help but be silent, and said for a long time: "Murong Qing is both loyal and filial, and he is a true believer." "Ordered someone to reward Murong Fu with two silk horses, and then left with a group of palace maids.

The conversation between Murong Fu and the Empress Dowager was soon passed on to Fan Zuyu by the chamberlain who was familiar with Fan Zuyu, and Fan Zuyu was passed on to Lu Gong. After listening to it, Lu Gong said after a long time: "This Murong Fu is really old and spicy!" It seems that he didn't say anything, but in fact, he said everything, and in the end he was rewarded! ”

Fan Zuyu was as straight as Zhang Er King Kong was puzzled when he heard this, and only said strangely: "Grandfather, Cai did frame Su Xiang with a poetry case back then, but Akashi was able to tell the Empress Dowager frankly in his heart, this is what a gentleman did!" ”

When Lu Gongzhu heard that Fan Zuyu only called Murong Fu's words so kind, he knew that his previous reminder had been lost. At that moment, he glared at him with hatred and steel, and said coldly: "Have you ever heard his last words clearly?" Murong Mingshi is 'unwilling to speak for Cai Qu', not 'unwilling to speak ill of Cai Qu'. Since he believes that Cai is indeed disloyal and unjust, why does he want to 'speak for Cai Qu'? …… The implication of this sentence is: He thinks that this poetry case Cai is indeed wronged! If you don't understand this unfinished word, the Queen Mother must understand. Since the Empress Dowager has given the reward, she must have made a calculation in her heart, and Cai should indeed give a light sentence. Speaking of this, he couldn't help but sigh again. Murong Fu is young, but his methods are comparable to those of an old official...... Su Zizhan is really blessed! ”

Lu Gongzhu didn't know that Su Shi, who was envied by him and blessed, was angry with his good apprentice at this time. Wang Yuyan saw Murong Fu holding Su Shi's manuscript, his face was pale and trembling, and he hurriedly stepped forward to comfort him in a whisper: "Cousin, let's not be angry!" Don't be angry, cousin! ”

Murong Fu turned a deaf ear, only gritting his teeth and crunching. After a long time, he slowly closed his eyes, exhaled deeply, and asked unexpectedly, "Teacher, this piece has been presented?" ”

Su Shi didn't know why, so he just nodded blankly. "What's wrong?"

What's wrong? Let the official family order Cai Qu to be arrested, and then let the Empress Dowager instruct Cai Qu to be released. Is this kind of wall grass and mud completely unoperable method that you, the right minister, should mention? Is the law of the court for you to use as a child's play? Do you still think that the difference in political views between the little emperor and the empress dowager, and the gap between grandparents and grandchildren, is not big enough? What's wrong with me, you're asking? You wrote such a recital, and the Queen Mother has been protecting you, she is really your true fan!

Murong Fu let out a long sigh of exhaustion, picked up the teacup and drank a cup of cold tea in one go, and then found his voice again. "Teacher, today I met the Empress Dowager in the Chongzheng Palace......" He briefly recounted his conversation with the Empress Dowager, and finally said. The students thought that the Empress Dowager would not punish Cai Chizheng severely. The only thing to worry about is that if the Shuo Party does not follow the rules, the Empress Dowager's consistent attitude towards the New Party may not be ......"

Su Shi was immediately shocked when he heard this, and shouted: "Lu Xiang advocates that Cai Zhizheng be exiled to Lingnan, in addition to Cai Zhizheng, Zhang Zihou, Li Bangzhi and others must be questioned again, this is to set off a big prison!" ”

"I know," Murong Fu's expression remained unchanged, and he only said in his heart: I also know that Cai did die in Xinzhou in the end. "Teacher, now that the Shuo party is powerful, you can't speak for Cai Qu anymore, so as not to burn yourself!"

"No way!" Unexpectedly, Su Shi refuted it without thinking about it. "Yaofu once told me that once this road is opened, we will inevitably end up like this in the future! Since I am the right minister, I can't help but admonish! ”

"Teacher!" Murong Fu hurriedly said, "Cai did frame you with a poetry case back then, and now he has also been framed for a poetry case." This is the reincarnation of cause and effect, retribution is unpleasant, so why should you ......"

Murong Fu stopped halfway through speaking, only to see Su Shi looking at him gently but firmly: "Akashi, do you remember what your words mean?" ”

Murong Fu didn't answer, he was silent for a while and asked, "Teacher, even if you lose your phase because of this, do you not hesitate?" The teacher can know that the loss of phase is not only the loss of power, but more importantly, the loss of the ability to ask for the people's lives. Is it worth it to give up the well-being of all the people in the world because of Cai Qu, a traitor? ”

Su Shi shook his head and said softly: "If you are a teacher who is afraid of the Shuo Party, you can turn a blind eye to Cai Quzhi's injustice today, and you will be able to turn a blind eye to the people in the future." No matter how much it occupies the phase, it is just a corpse vegetarian meal, what good is it for the people of the world? ”

"Teacher, today's Shuo Party is so powerful that we have no choice but to avoid its edge for the time being, but this does not mean that we will never have a chance to turn around. But if you completely lose the qualification to play this game, you will never be able to turn over. ”

Su Shi only smiled bitterly when he heard this, and said gloomily: "Akashi, what you mean is that the teacher understands, and the teacher has always understood." It's just ......"

"It's just that it's one thing to understand some things, and it's another thing to be able to do them." Murong replied. Lu Dafang is also a Jinshi and has a wide range of knowledge, whether Cai Qu's poems slander the court situation and insinuate the empress dowager, he can't see it? He chased and beat Cai Qu so hard, can he still be said to be "a heavy man, a sincere backbone, and a virtuous man"? At the beginning, Lu Dafang was the left minister, and Su Shi also agreed, but now I don't know what Su Shi thinks in his heart. Murong Fu didn't want to ask, he just felt tired. "The teacher knows that politics is so cruel. Even if the personal relationship between the two is good and the interests are at stake, you still didn't discuss it when it was time to pit you. If you don't want to take care of some dirty things, someone else has to take care of them for you. If you cherish your name and don't want to dirty yourself, the people will have to wallow in the mire. ”

Su Shi opened his mouth weakly and did not speak.

“…… Or, maybe it's me who has to look forward to Shu and is insatiable......" Murong Fu couldn't see Su Shi so embarrassed, he had known Su Shi for two lifetimes, and he thought that no one in the world could understand each other better than him. Su Shi's nature is so bright and upright, and it is rare that he has never changed his nature even though he has suffered a lot. And what Murong Fu has always admired is such a Su Shi who can stick to his nature. Now if Su Shi wants to use power for the sake of power, it is difficult for a strong man, and Ye Gong is suspected of being a good dragon. Thinking of this, Murong Fu couldn't help but smile dumbly, and comforted him again: "Teacher, don't worry, let me think again, let me think again......" As he spoke, he waved his hand and walked out by himself.

Su Shi looked at the background of the student's departure and couldn't help but half-raise his arm at a loss, he wanted to stay, but he didn't know what he could say, so he had to sigh in vain.

But Wang Yuyan watched coldly, and suddenly said quietly: "Even if he knew the master's personality, but the situation has come to this point, my cousin will inevitably expect someone to help him......"

In May of the fourth year of Yuan You, Cai was demoted to Zuo Zhongsan Doctor and the branch of Nanjing. However, the whole party was extremely dissatisfied with this treatment, and they went to the Empress Dowager to demand heavy punishment. Su Shi, Su Zhe, Fan Chunren, Wang Cun and others strongly opposed, but the Empress Dowager was finally persuaded by Lu Dafang and Liu Zhi to demote Cai to Yingzhou and settle in Xinzhou. In addition, the New Party members Zhang Dian, Han Jin, Li Qingchen, Zhang Shangying, and others, who were expelled by Sima Guang in the first year of Yuanyou, were also degraded again because of this case, and Li Deshu and Pu Zongmeng, who were members of the New Party in the DPRK, were also demoted and belittled. Since then, the court has been dominated by the Shuo Party.

After using the Chegaiting case to ask for directions and find out the dissidents, the Shuo Party turned the spearhead of the struggle to the Shu Party, which had a "prominent" expression in the Chegaiting poetry case. In August of the fourth year of Yuanyou, Wang Mao, a stalwart of the Shuo Party and a counselor, went to the imperial court to impeach Hu Zongyue, the right man of Shangshu, for corrupting the law, and formed a party with Su Shi to eliminate dissidents.