Mingyue said: "Your Highness, today Wang Ge Lao and Prime Minister Qiu's mansion have sent people to the Eighth Prince's Mansion, and it took a full hour to leave the mansion, this is the second time." ”

Xuan Pei said "En", and continued to dip his words in ink without care, Chaoyang and Mingyue glanced at each other, although the palace maid should not talk about the master's affairs, but Mingyue and Chaoyang were assigned by Xiao Shao to help Xuan Pei, and the other was also an old man in the palace. The matter of seizing the heir, sometimes it is not just a battle between two princes, it is a battle between the two sides, but whenever one person loses, there are people who support him behind him, and it is a battle for succession, often to the most bloody after the most lucrative, in which the sacrifice and cruelty are just for that position. Since it is the person next to Xuan Pei, the battle with Xuan Li will be fought sooner or later, and the day when the two compete against each other will come sooner or later, what he has to do now is to increase his winning chips before that day. Xuan Pei's attitude of not caring about himself will feel that this person is unreliable and not worth following in the eyes of those who do not know. Compared with Xuanli's huge number of customers and staff, Xuanpei's means of recruiting talents are ....... It should be said that he has never taken the initiative to recruit talents at all, and he always comes when people are willing to take refuge, and does not come to pull him down.

No, this Wang Ge Lao and Prime Minister Qiu have always secretly supported Xuan Pei, but now the emperor treats the two princes in the cold, and Xuan Li's team is getting stronger and stronger, but Xuan Pei has no movement, and he never offers any interest temptation to the ministers who came to defect, and those people are gradually lost when they come and go. Wang Ge Lao and Prime Minister Qiu are also a general force, and they have already taken refuge in Xuanli, and more and more people on their side are leaving, and Xuanli is not in a hurry at all.

"Your Highness," Chaoyang was a little anxious in his heart: "Elder Wang Ge and Prime Minister Qiu are obviously your people, but they still left like this, which is really too much to tear down the bridge." ”

Xuan Pei smiled, but was unmoved. Although Mingyue was also very puzzled in her heart, she knew that this young man was by no means a dull person, his scheming and forbearance were beyond the imagination of ordinary people, and there must be a purpose in doing this, so she said: "Your Highness doesn't seem to be worried at all. ”

Xuan Pei finally finished writing the last stroke, only then did he breathe a sigh of relief, put down his pen, looked at Mingyue and said, "What doubts do you have?" ”

Xuan Li's attitude towards her is harsher than that of Chaoyang, because she is Xiao Shao's person, but she is more serious than Chaoyang, because there are still many things for her to do, and she is neat and can do better. Hearing this, Mingyue knelt down and said: "The slave doesn't understand why His Highness doesn't take the initiative to recruit talents, and he doesn't know how to lure people who come to defect, and he doesn't understand that at this juncture, the Eighth Prince moves frequently, but His Highness only stays in the house and doesn't make a move." ”

"You've got too many questions." Xuan Pei looked at her and said slowly, he played with the wrench in his hand, and suddenly smiled: "But the palace is in a good mood today, and I can answer you." It's just that Xiao Shao's people don't even know about this thing, which is really eye-opening for me. "Xuan Pei always changes his method and damages Xiao Shao as soon as he gets the opportunity, Mingyue has heard a lot, just if this is a child's fighting spirit, he won't really take it to heart.

Xuan Pei saw that Mingyue's expression remained unchanged, and he was not annoyed, as if he also felt a little bored, so he coughed and said: "Xiancai is not actively recruited, do you think that if I want to compete with Xuanli, who needs the most support behind me, is Xiancai?" ”

Mingyue didn't speak, at any time, whether it was a succession or not, a Ming monarch would always try to select the virtuous, and a virtuous person was naturally fought for by the monarchs. Xuan Pei smiled faintly: "Wrong, virtuous, the reason why virtuous talents are virtuous talents must be appreciated by Mingjun." This is not a peaceful and prosperous world, nor is it a battle of life and death, it is a big gamble that will lose all the plates if you are not careful, I think that talent is important, but it is far less than ambition. ”

"Ambition?" Mingyue asked in a lost voice.

"Ambition." Xuan Pei sat on the chair, his body was thin, not yet fully developed, sitting on the wide chair was a little lame, but the long sleeves and corners of the robe flowed down from the chair and covered the ground, countless laziness, it actually made Mingyue a little trance for a moment, and felt that the person sitting in front of him was not a young man who had not yet reached the end of time, but a wise man who had grown up.

"A thin hungry wolf and a well-trained hunting dog," Xuan Pei said lightly: "In the days when there is no need to fight for anything, a smart hunting dog is certainly good, but when it comes to snatching and killing people, it is probably much better to bring a thin hungry wolf." Your so-called virtuous man is a hunting dog, and the ambitious man is a hungry wolf, and what I have to face is a battle of life and death, only blood and blood hand-to-hand combat, and whoever is more fierce will be more advantageous to me. You can use meat to attract hunting dogs, but you can never use meat to attract hungry wolves, because what it wants is to bring death to the other party. ”

Mingyue was silent for a while and asked, "The hungry wolf is certainly fierce, but it will inevitably give birth to a beast nature and devour its master in the future." ”

"There won't be that chance." Xuan Pei said.

Mingyue was stunned for a moment, only to hear Xuan Pei's voice coming from above her head: "After the death of the prey, there is no need for the hungry wolf to exist, so naturally it is necessary to find an opportunity to kill." ”

Hearing this, Mingyue couldn't help but tremble, she didn't expect this young man to be so decisive and so easy to say the words of a cunning rabbit dead lackey. Although these words are despicable and cruel, they are indeed the best beginning of an emperor's path. Xuan Pei had such courage to surprise her, and she was so decisive. Xuan Pei glanced at Mingyue, who was distracted, and said: "Ambition is only used to deal with the enemy, if you also have ambitions for my things and secretly covet them, your ambitions will be wiped out forever." ”

Chaoyang stood far aside, Xuan Pei's words fell into her ears word for word, and she couldn't help but feel nervous in her heart, and forced herself to suppress the depression in her heart, she always knew that the thirteenth prince was not simple, but she didn't know that Lu Dao's mind and wrist had reached the point of a future prince, and his age was not a defect at all, and would even become an excellent cover.

"Then why doesn't His Highness make a bid?" Mingyue said: "If there is a price, wouldn't it be easier to be recruited by careerists?" ”

"What do you think of me compared to Xuanli's power?" Xuan Pei asked.

Mingyue was stunned, and soon came back to her senses, she knew that Xuanpei was a person with a clear mind, and it was not interesting to tell lies, so she said honestly: "The power of the Eighth Prince is even better. ”

"That's right, his potential is even better, I open the bid code, once he knows the price code, as long as he mentions it, it will be good, with his potential strength, he can also do this. Those who are tempted by my price will surely follow when they see a higher price bar. On the contrary, wouldn't it be better to wait for the price and sell, and the priceless treasure? Xuan Pei smiled slightly: "Let them never know their own value, always have an expectation for the future, and work harder than they do." These people who are bought for priceless treasures can never be bought by Xuanli with tangible prices. ”

Mingyue didn't seem to understand, only to hear Xuan Pei say again: "Do you think that now there are more and more followers behind Xuanli, do you know that Lu Dao is not a good thing for him?" ”

Mingyue nodded and shook her head again.

"The same chips, two people share, than the benefits of one person. There are many people behind Xuanli, but the more people, when Xuanli gets what he wants, the less credit everyone will share. On the contrary, there are not many people behind me, and if I succeed in the future, those people will get a greater share of the benefits. In other words, the people who stand behind me are all people who are driven by the big good, and these people who are driven by the big good will never be moved by the small interests that are declared. Because there is no price, but because of the efforts they have put in, there will be a gambling mind, have you ever seen a person who quit halfway through gambling? Usually no, the people behind me, everyone has a gambling mind, so they are the most stable part. ”

Mingyue listened to it like an empowerment, but she was faintly surprised and didn't understand, she looked at Xuan Pei and said, "But Wang Ge Lao and Prime Minister Qiu..." ”

"This is a person driven by small interests, today is not to leave, one day it will be unfavorable to me because of the immediate interests, it is better to kick out early, such a short-sighted blade, I believe that Xuanli is held in his hand, and he will not feel very happy." Xuan Pei suddenly thought of something, and suddenly smiled again: "Besides, you think that there are more and more people behind Xuan Li, which is really a good thing?" Thinking about it, the father and emperor in the palace are really full of anger in his heart now, and the anger of the Son of Heaven is not something that anyone can bear. ”

"Your Majesty is ......" Mingyue was startled. The emperor doesn't seem to care much about the two princes now, and he doesn't have much to say about the matter of changing the crown prince, but is it possible that he still secretly pays attention to this matter?

Mingyue thought for a while and said: "Since His Majesty is paying attention to this matter, the incident of His Highness in Qing'an County a few days ago has now been widely impeached, and the slaves and maids listened to Gonggong Li's revelations, and the excerpts of impeachment are endless, His Majesty is very angry, I am afraid that His Highness has some displeasure in his heart, do you want to refute it, or find an opportunity to impeach the Eighth Prince?" ”

Before Xuanhua was born, the emperor had a period of time when he was very serious about Xuanpei, but whenever there was any major event in the court, he would also ask Xuanpei's opinion tentatively. The snow disaster in Qing'an County was serious, when the emperor asked Xuan Pei, Xuan Pei wrote an excerpt to seal the snow disaster, and the excerpt was also written in a decent manner, with some novelties, but it was not too talented, and it was adopted by the emperor after the most remarkable. No, a few days ago, news came from Qing'an County, but Xuan Pei's method did not play a big role, so that the people under the Eighth Emperor immediately seized this opportunity, with Xuan Pei being young and greedy, and making fun of the people's livelihood events, but this impeachment of him, those ministers naturally have been with the emperor for many years, and each letter is full of heartache, and those who don't know how to think that Xuan Pei has made some heinous mistakes. However, being impeached by so many people will inevitably leave a bad impression in the emperor's heart. Thinking about this, Mingyue was still a little uneasy.

"You go and arrange a few people, and the people on my side you tell them to go down, and say that they will also give me a fold." Xuan Pei shook his sleeve absently.

"Is it also to impeach the Eighth Prince?" Chaoyang couldn't help but speak, her expression was still a little happy, in her opinion, the Eighth Emperor's subordinates did too inauthentic things, so they should fight back fiercely. I didn't want Xuan Pei to shake his head and said, "Impeach me." ”

"What?" Chaoyang screamed in surprise, and then found that he had overpassed, and hurriedly knelt down to plead guilty, Mingyue also frowned, not understanding the reason why Xuan Pei did this.

Xuan Pei smiled slightly, slowly moved his lips, Mingyue was stunned for a moment, and then his body was a little cold. She once again raised her eyes to look at the young man, who was half of his body sunk in the cushion, casually supporting his chin, the sun outside the window was dummed at the right time, and half of the young man's body fell into the shadows, like a silent stone statue, thick and heavy, as if through the curtains, green tiles and glass, sitting on a high throne, lonely and cruel emperor.

A true emperor.

He said with a smile: "Everyone is attached to Xuanli, let him see, whose world is this world?" ”

……。

The sun is setting in the west, and the weather is dark early in early spring, and the sky is already dark in the blink of an eye. Jiang Ruan and Qi Feng walked out of the small shop on the street, and then went back to the palace. Today, Xu is Jiang Ruan has really not been out for a long time, and Xu is Qi Feng is originally a funny master, and the two get along very happily, not only visited Yi Bao Pavilion, but also visited the rest of the shops by the way. I also went to take a look at the shop that Xuan Pei gave her at the wedding, Jiang Ruan didn't have any other thoughts, although Xuan Pei sent these shops to her, she didn't lack these silver now, she just wanted to run it well and return it to Xuan Pei in the future. If Xuan Pei really sits in that position one day, he will not sit in that position, and the environment he is in is destined to make him need these things more than Jiang Ruan. In Jiang Ruan's eyes, Xuan Pei will always be her child.

I went to see the shop with Qi Feng, bought some more things, and even ate something in the store outside before coming back. When he returned to the gate of the mansion, it was already late, and Qi Feng had a bunch of trivial things in his hand, all of which Jiang Ruan bought outside today. The two of them did not take the carriage in order to avoid suspicion, Jiang Ruan was in high spirits for some reason today, and bought a lot of things, I have to say that it is really refreshing to buy things when there is no shortage of money now. In this way, all the heavy work fell on Qi Feng, Qi Feng hugged him, and when he arrived at the gate of the mansion, Jiang Ruan smiled and said, "Give it to me, you have worked hard today." ”

Qi Feng smiled bitterly: "It's not hard, the third sister-in-law commanded, even if you are a cow and a horse, you don't dare to refuse, if you don't do it, you will have to be scolded by the third brother when you turn around." ”

Jiang Ruan was stunned, Qi Feng also realized that he had said the wrong thing, and stood in place at a loss, Jiang Ruan reached out and wanted to take the things in Qi Feng's hand, but he didn't want to slip under his feet, Qi Feng was busy helping her, the thing crackled and fell to the ground, but the person helped it, Qi Feng grabbed Jiang Ruan's hand, and looked at the woman in front of him but was a little distracted.

The departure since these days is not an escape, but he is afraid that he will fall deeper and deeper, Jiang Ruan can do whatever he wants, but he can't do it anyway, such close contact is a little stunned for a while, such a picture is an unintentional mistake, but it seems a little too ambiguous in the eyes of others.

I only heard the familiar sound of "The young master is back", accompanied by the sound of the door opening, Steward Lin's head also stretched out, and he couldn't help but be taken aback after seeing Jiang Ruan and Qi Feng also there, Xu was even more surprised by the posture of Jiang Ruan and Qi Feng. Jiang Ruan raised his eyes and saw Xiao Shao standing a few feet away quietly looking at this side, the sky was dark, and the lanterns at the gate of the mansion were swaying, reflecting his expression not very clearly. Qi Feng took a step back and said with a smile: "Third sister-in-law, don't be careless next time, it's done, since the third brother is back, I'll leave too." With that, he waved his hand and turned to leave.

Jiang Ruan glanced at Xiao Shao, Steward Lin's face stiffened, Jiang Ruan pushed the door and walked in, and when he passed by Steward Lin, he said, "Pick up the things and send them to the house, I'm sorry to trouble Steward Lin." ”

After Jiang Ruan left, Steward Lin instructed the little servants to pick up the things that had fallen on the ground, and was about to step forward to greet Xiao Shao and say a few words of relief, but Xiao Shao passed by him without saying a word, but the cold air on his body was really a little amazing. This is naturally not the cold brought by the frost and snow outside, Steward Lin shivered, and some wanted to cry without tears, this is so good, how can the young lady who treats people estranged on weekdays be so good with Qi Feng, this Qi Feng is not authentic, is it possible that I don't know the truth that my friend's wife can't play? No, no, no, Qi Feng is the master's senior brother, so naturally he wouldn't do such a wolf-hearted thing, it must have been a misunderstanding. But, why the hell did they just meet by chance?

This is the first time that the husband and wife have met at night since the Cold War, on weekdays, when Xiao Shao comes back at night, Jiang Ruan has already rested, so naturally there is no chance to speak, who knows that Xiao Shao came back so early today. After Jiang Ruan freshened up, he didn't see Xiao Shao in the room, and asked Tianzhu, who said that Xiao Shao was in the study.

Xiao Shao didn't know what Lu Dao was busy with in the past few days, maybe there was really something in the study, but today it happened that something like this happened again, and it seemed a little strange for Xiao Shao to go to the study at this time. It was probably Xiao Shao who was sulking, if it was usual, Jiang Ruan felt that this kind of Xiao Shao was still a little cute, but after experiencing the incident of Jiner and Dewdrop, he would subconsciously think to Xiao Shao who didn't believe him. No woman can accept her husband's doubts about herself, especially when it comes to innocence. Jiang Ruan is also a stubborn character, so he just hummed and fell asleep first, and had no intention of going to the study to talk. Instead, full of hope, he waited outside the house for reconciliation, and the red-sleeved housekeeper Bai waited all night.

……

It was night, above the Yao family's mansion in the capital, heavy curtains were stacked, bamboo and wood were dizzy, but the courtyard of Miss Yao was fluttering with a pleasant piano sound. Every decoration in this courtyard is gorgeous and exquisite, and it is a sign of elegance everywhere, that is, a sculpture of koi on the edge of the pond, all striving to be lifelike. This courtyard was originally from the hands of Yao Niannian, the young lady of the Yao family, and Master Yao obviously demanded excellence from the craftsmen, which led to this ingenious courtyard, but it also showed from the side that this Yao Niannian must be the pearl of Governor Yao's palm, so he would satisfy her long-cherished wish with such fanfare.

At this moment, the sound of the piano in the courtyard is also worthy of the scenery in this courtyard, Yao Niannian is very smart, and he knows how to play the piano, chess, calligraphy and painting, but he is not very proficient. If Jiang Susu was a talented woman in Beijing, Yao Niannian would be the wisest woman in everyone's hearts, and the wisest woman may not be the best in qin, chess, calligraphy and painting, but she is inexplicably more respectable than that talented woman.

The two maids who were standing far away were quietly discussing: "This song is so good, why haven't I heard the young lady play it before." ”

"Stupid," another servant whispered: "It must have been created by herself, our young lady is already smart, if the sound of this qin is spread outside, I think the title of the first qin girl in the capital will also be popular." ”

"What nonsense, what is the identity of the Qin Lady, how can it be compared with our young lady," the smaller maid said: "Come in Miss is more and more fond of playing the piano in the yard, I don't know why, should it be ......" She thought of something, and kept her mouth busy, but her expression was a little uncontrollable worry.

In the pavilion in the courtyard on one side, the woman's long sleeves fluttered, the corners of her robe turned up with a small dizzying delicate silk thread pattern, and a pair of slender hands flew up and down the strings.

After a while, the song ended, but Yao Niannian did not withdraw her hand, a pair of stammering hands like jade were still covered on the strings, her eyebrows and eyes were light, but there was something indescribable in her eyes, as if it could penetrate people's hearts. The corners of her lips hooked, looking at the strings in front of her, but it seemed that she remembered something else. Among the remaining ashes on the ground, there was paper that had been used to practice calligraphy and practice-Yao Niannian had always asked for perfection for himself, and in the ashes, there seemed to be something else, but those unfamiliar handwriting were mixed in the ashes, and they disappeared with the firelight, but nothing was left.

Yao Niannian said slowly, and he didn't know whether to say it to others or to himself: "The heart is like a rock, the heart is like a rock, the two rocks collide, and the two hundred are injured." Jiang Ruan, the one who guesses people's hearts? Her smile gradually took on a contemptuous connotation: "Joke." ”

There are indeed people in the world who can play with people's hearts, I originally thought that since Jiang Ruan was quite prestigious, he naturally had a special place, but now it seems that it is just a false rumor, and the woman is vulnerable, so she is really not afraid. There are many dark places in people's hearts, which may not be harmful, but the dark places in them are infinitely magnified, and at the right opportunity, they will cause irreparable mistakes.

"The bait is cast, and the shrimp is also hanging," Yao Niannian stretched out a hand and gently crossed the strings, but when he crossed the last string, his hand suddenly exerted force, and the strings made a sharp chirp and broke in response. Yao Niannian unhurriedly twisted the short string and said with a light smile: "You can start." ”

------Off topic------

Unacceptable readers suggest that Yangyangwen read it again, Chacha doesn't want spoilers, and I don't know how to explain it, the plot can replace all explanations.