Cheng Zheng intended to let Yuanxin calm down for a while, but what he was waiting for was the news of the elders of the Yun Clan's Cabinet, asking the two of them to prepare for the exam carefully, and the selection of the successor to King Xiang would begin next month.

This matter is a bit sudden for Cheng Zheng and Yuanxin, Cheng Zheng has seen King Xiang and knows that he is not in good health, but he didn't expect that it was so bad that he had to retire to recuperate, and what he didn't expect was that it was Yuanxin who competed with him for the position of King Xiang.

And Yuanxin was also unexpected, he had a meritorious role in saving the second princess, and it was reasonable to be named a fourth-grade general, but was nominated as a candidate for King Xiang, was it too hasty to discuss the cabinet? Just when Yuanxin was confused and confused, Cheng Zheng came.

"Far Faith." Cheng Zheng stepped forward to call him.

Yuanxin didn't show any enthusiasm when he saw Cheng Zheng coming, and asked coldly, "You are here for the battle of King Xiang." ”

Cheng Zheng knew that Yuan Xin was still complaining that he had concealed Menghan's death, and he was not surprised by his coldness, so he replied bluntly, "You guessed right." ”

Yuanxin snorted, "I've been living here for half a month, you don't come early or late, but after the decree of the council cabinet, if I can't guess your intentions, I'm really stupid." ”

Cheng Zheng explained, "It's not that I don't care about you, I know that you are sad to learn of Menghan's death, and I want you to calm down so I didn't come to you." ”

"Don't mention Menghan!" Yuanxin shouted sharply, his eyes flashing fiercely, "If you mention her once, I will hate you a little more." ”

Cheng Zheng didn't know Yuanxin's misunderstanding, and he didn't go to his heart, "Okay, don't mention her, I'm not here for her." I want to persuade you to give up the dispute between the kings of Xiang. ”

Yuanxin sneered, "I never thought that the great responsibility of the Yun Clan would fall on my head, I was still hesitating before you came, but after you came, I decided that I wanted to give up, impossible." ”

Cheng Zheng held back his anger and persuaded, "Yuanxin! I hope you can calm down and think about it carefully, the throne of King Xiang is a matter of importance, not a plaything for your anger! ”

Yuanxin raised the corners of his mouth contemptuously, "What's at stake?" So, I still think I'm a naughty bastard, don't I? I used to think so, but it suddenly dawned on me that if I were that incompetent, the Council wouldn't mention my name, and you wouldn't have come to me, right? What are you afraid of? Can you afford to look down on me as a fledgling? Are you so unconfident in your abilities? ”

"I'm not worried about me, it's you, you know!" Cheng Zheng walked up to him and stared straight at him, "King Xiang's status is complicated, and being in his position is like walking on thin ice, if you are not careful, you will be doomed, I can't let you take risks!" ”

"I don't care." Yuanxin smiled easily, "I don't care about the catastrophe, anyway, there is nothing to love in life now, what joy is there in life, and what is fear in death." ”

Cheng Zheng earnestly admonished, "If you really have this kind of thinking, you are even more unsuitable to lead the Yun Clan." I seriously advise you that the Yun Clan can have today because of the blood and bones of the ancestors, if it is destroyed on you, you can't afford the consequences! ”

"Enough!" Yuanxin suddenly became angry, "I'm so incompetent in your heart, am I? You don't believe me, I'm going to prove it to you! Whether I have the ability or not, the cabinet and the emperor decide, it is not your turn to judge! ”

"Yuanxin, you are cultivated by me, I think no one is more qualified to judge you than me. If you really want to sit on it, you must change yourself drastically, maybe your head is bleeding, maybe you are unrecognizable, compared to the pain you were forced to join the army, it is more than the pain you were forced to join the army. I don't want you to take any of this, I don't want you to take any risks, and I can't afford to take that risk. Cheng Zheng's bitter advice.

Yuanxin was unmoved, "Once this matter starts, it won't end so easily, you might as well go back and prepare well, we'll see you in the cabinet." ”

Cheng Zheng saw that he insisted, and knew that it was useless to say more, so he only told him to calm down and think about it before leaving.

After Min Xuan learned that the Council had nominated Yuanxin and Cheng Zheng as candidates for Xiangwang, he intended to give advice to Yuanxin. He knew that the relationship between Cheng Zheng and Yilin was unbreakable, and Cheng Zheng could only support Yilin on the road to succession, in order to find his right-hand man, he used Menghan's death to separate the feelings of Cheng Zheng and Yuanxin, and then hoped to take Yuanxin for his own use.

Min Xuan invited Yuanxin to Hong'an Palace, explained his intentions, Yuanxin decisively refused without saying a word, he stood firm, he didn't want to become anyone's henchman, even if he couldn't get the throne of King Xiang.

Yuanxin left in a chic manner, he was not tempted, because he never thought about competing for the position, he knew that his qualifications were too shallow to take on this important responsibility, and he didn't let go in front of Cheng Zheng that day, just wanting to be angry with Cheng Zheng.

However, since he was nominated by the emperor, he should also prepare for it, so as not to be too embarrassed. He went to the study of the main courtyard of the Zhenxi Wangfu when he had nothing to do, and Cheng Zheng happened to be inside. Yuanxin walked to the bookshelf without saying a word, took the books closest to him, turned around and was about to leave, but was stopped by Cheng Zheng.

Cheng Zheng stepped forward and handed him a copy of "The Theory of the People", and said earnestly, "If you really intend to compete for the position, take a good look." ”

"Thank you." Yuanxin deliberately put pressure on Cheng Zheng, accepted it gladly, and went out.

Cheng Zheng stood at the door thoughtfully, the book was specially prepared by him for Yuanxin, he still remembered that when he was a child, he inadvertently flipped through the book, and was found by his grandfather and reprimanded, saying that the book was written sharply and his thoughts were treacherous, and people who were not well versed in the world could not understand it, and children were easily bewitched by it.

And Yuanxin, when he returned to the suburban garden, threw the book that Cheng Zheng gave him into the corner, and said disdainfully, "Who wants to compete with you for the throne." ”

In the middle of summer and May, the Council separately assessed the two candidates, including the literary examination, the military examination, the policy theory, the use of soldiers, the patriarchal law, and the virtue...... The assessment categories are intricate and numerous, and the time lasted for a whole month. After that, the cabinet discussed comprehensively, and the results and construction were submitted to King Xiang and the emperor, and the emperor made the final decision.

Cheng Zheng won by an overwhelming margin, but just when the emperor was about to draft a decree, an unexpected thing happened.

As soon as he wrote a letter to impeach Cheng Zheng in the name of the prince, he pointed out that he was lawless, guilty of the following, and arrogant and disloyal.

And this is because Minxuan released the news that Menghan was killed by Yilin, Cheng Zheng was unbearable, and went straight to Qinghe Palace to question him, and the two had a quarrel, and they were angry enough to make this move.

Cheng Zheng, as the quasi-Xiang king, will assist the prince to ascend the throne in the future, and being impeached by the prince is undoubtedly his fatal wound.

After this, the Council began to consider Yuanxin, although his resume is shallow, but he is also from a military background, and he is talented, clever and flexible, if he can maintain a pure temperament and hard work, he is also a rare talent.

The Council Cabinet conducted several additional tests on Yuanxin, and Yuanxin lived on the outskirts of the city alone, and did not know the inside story, and after seriously answering the questions of the elders, he thought that he had turned the page, and did not take it to heart at all.

He is very dedicated because he doesn't want to embarrass the Cheng family, and he thinks that Cheng Zheng was taught by his grandfather and father, so he will not be worse than him. Just when he was planning a new round of sightseeing, the emperor sent someone to deliver the decree.

The manager of Ming'an complained in front of the small courtyard why Yuanxin lived in such a remote place, which made it easy for him to find.

Yuanxin knelt down heartlessly to listen to the decree, thinking that it was nothing more than a praise and comfort after losing the election, after Ming An read the holy decree, he was scared stupid at the time, and he stammered speechless, let Ming An repeat it.

Ming An read it again, Yuanxin still felt very unreal like a dream, and asked Ming An if it was Cheng Yuanxin, not Cheng Zheng?

Ming An joked with him and left happily, while Yuanxin was still at a loss.

Fidgeting all day, tossing and turning all night, until dawn the next day, Yuanxin opened his eyes and saw that the holy decree was still on the table before he finally believed that it was true.

In just a few months, from the leader of the Jiupin Association to the general of the fourth rank, to the king of the first rank, Yuanxin's official promotion was so fast that he couldn't accept it himself.

Thanksgiving, succession, sealing, as well as the internal celebrations and sacrifices of the Yun Clan, etc., Yuanxin's itinerary is full, and there is no time to doubt it anymore.

Xu Qingsong changed the title of An Guogong, and after explaining the government affairs to Yuanxin in every detail, he returned to his hometown to recuperate, and Yuanxin took over the appointment of King Xiang in a panic, and refused to set up another mansion, and for the convenience of travel, he moved back to Zhenxi Wangfu to live.

When the new official of Yuanxin took office, he did not dare to slack off, and he was familiar with government affairs day and night, forgetting to sleep and eating, and his hard-working and diligent attitude made the elders of the cabinet feel at ease.

Until one day, when Yuanxin was looking through the books at night, he saw the "Theory of the People" given to him by Cheng Zheng, and Yuanxin thought that since it was specially recommended by Cheng Zheng, it should be a good book, so he sat down and read it carefully.

With Yuanxin's sophistry talent, he quickly saw the paradoxes in the book, and there were some very one-sided views, talking about people's livelihood from the perspective of a saint, it was complete nonsense, and he specially recommended it to me before the assessment? Let me read this kind of book to prepare for the strategy?

Yuanxin realized Cheng Zheng's intentions, I trust you so much, you actually want to harm me? You're playing tricks and won't even let your brother go? Yuanxin angrily threw down the book, "Someone! ”

The subordinate came in in response, "What do you have the second master's command?" ”

"You send this book to the Duanhou Mansion and tell the Marquis that I asked him for an explanation."

"Yes." As soon as the subordinate took the book away, he was stopped by Yuanxin again, "Hey, come back, come back, leave the book, you go to Duanhou Mansion and ask Hou Ye to come over." ”

"Yes." The servant respectfully handed back the book and left.

When Cheng Zheng came in, Yuanxin was flipping through "The Theory of the People" with great interest, raising the corners of his mouth and shaking his head contemptuously, as if he was watching a joke.

"You're looking for me." Cheng Zheng came in.

Yuanxin casually threw the book on the table and said unceremoniously, "Give me an explanation." ”

Cheng Zheng saw the title of the book, knew what he meant, and did not defend himself, "That's what you think." ”

Yuanxin stood up, stared at him coldly and said, "Reason." ”

Cheng Zheng looked at him directly, unabashedly, "I don't want you to become King Xiang." ”

Yuanxin smirked sneeringly, "But I'm already King Xiang, what's the matter?" Disappointed? ”

"Nope." Cheng Zheng said calmly.

Yuanxin snorted disdainfully, "The elders said that I am inexperienced, and if you assist in the future, I will get twice the result with half the effort." That's how you help me, huh? ”

Cheng Zheng was calm, "If you need it in the future, I will do my best to help you." ”

"No, I'm afraid I'll be led astray by a despicable and sinister person like you." Yuanxin raised his eyebrows and flatly refused.

Cheng Zheng was very unhappy when he heard him say this, but he didn't respond to anything, he really calculated Yuanxin.

Yuanxin hooked the corners of his mouth again, "By the way, I live alone in this Zhenxi Wangfu, I feel lonely, I don't know if you want to accompany me, big brother?" ”

Cheng Zheng heard the unkindness in Yuanxin's tone, and did not refuse, at least living here, the two of them will not be more separated, just like a family, otherwise I am afraid that the two of them will go farther and farther, Cheng Zheng agreed, "Okay." (To be continued.) )